Do You Read Between the Lines?

[cgannon64]

Do you read between the lines? Do you analyze songs, books, movies, for their meaning? Do you do this subconciously, or do you often talk to peers (or think by yourself) about the meanings of what you just read/watched/heard?

This is partly inspired by the "Hotel California" thread, partly by the fact that I just watched the end of my favorite anime, and I couldn't help think about the themes, message, and moral.

So do you think about the meanings and morals of what you read, watch, and hear? Do you enjoy doing this, is it a habit, or what?

EDIT: Three part poll. If you checked "No" then you're done. If you checked one, two, or three of the choices, then check one of the last two.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Not unless I have nothing better to do, and I have rewatched said item at least 10 times...

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by Knight-Dragon
Not unless I have nothing better to do, and I have rewatched said item at least 10 times...

I have to convince my mom not to return it!

Oh, and I didn't just mean the last 2 episodes of CB; I hope I made that clear. I meant anything that can be interpreted.

 

[SunTzu]

I can't read

 

[WildFire]

Than what is the point of posting? So if I make fun of you, you wouldnt know what I was saying?

Isnt it called infarential reading? And yes I do. Except for songs. Well, rap songs are easy to "read between the lines"

 

[SunTzu]

i like to figure out the meanings of song lyrics

 

[GerrardCapashen]

Only when the symbolism or theme is obvious enough that I can't appreciate the movie/book/song without understanding it.

Also in English class, which would be a lot more fun if I was better at it.

 

[sween32]

only if it's worth trying. if i don't think it is, then i forget about it. sometimes there's absolutely nothing between the lines but paper.

 

[Greadius]

Nope.

If they have something to say, say it. I don't have the time or interest to interpret your art.

 

[Unregister]

I like to figure out song lyrics. But most of the times i still have no idea how they are about the particular theme.

For example "Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls is about abortion. try and figure that one out.

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by Unregister
For example "Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls is about abortion. try and figure that one out.

Don't ruin that song for me. I've already had "Alive" by Pearl Jam ruined.

 

[sween32]

"Crash" by Dave Matthews is about a teen fantasizing about making love to a middle aged woman. creeped me out abit, but it's too good of a song to be ruined by it's meaning.

a song i would like to know the meaning to is 3 libras
http://www.lyrics2.com/lyrics/a/a_perfect_circle/3_libras.html

 

[animepornstar]

i've always been good at reading between the lines in books. this did actually get me in trouble in school because i also wrote a lot between the lines which the teachers didn't get. reading between the lines is nothing i do conciously, i just detects the emotions in some way.

in music i try to listen to what the music says, not the lyrics. some songs lose their magic when you know the lyrics too well. it becomes like playing computer games with a walkthrough. "alive" is a good example of this kind of songs.

 

[Jeratain]

Movies, books, songs, etc - Yes I try to read between the lines when applicable.

But when it comes to songs, there's some that you just can't read between the lines for - like Ja Rule or Nelly or Sum 41, etc.

I'm not generalizing those genres however - hip hop and alternative have plenty of artists that throw out ambiguous songs with hidden meanings.

Take Tupac's Me and My Girlfriend song for instance - it's not really about his girlfriend, but actually about his gun - or so it is said.

Then you have a couple of Nirvana songs and many others..

And of course there's always movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and so on.

 

[animepornstar]

Originally posted by sween32
a song i would like to know the meaning to is 3 libras
http://www.lyrics2.com/lyrics/a/a_perfect_circle/3_libras.html

seem like it's about a how he is trying to open himself for someone, probably a girl, who don't see that.

 

[Greadius]

Originally posted by sween32
a song i would like to know the meaning to is 3 libras
http://www.lyrics2.com/lyrics/a/a_perfect_circle/3_libras.html

Its about putting diversity in the album by having a song where he sings about his inner pain and turmoil like his life depended on it.

 

[Narz]

Originally posted by Greadius
Nope.

If they have something to say, say it. I don't have the time or interest to interpret your art.

I used to feel this way and I still prefer the direct approach. My attitude know is that if a book/movie/person is delibrately cryptic or hard to understand I don't bother but if this book/movie/person is interesting enough to begin (or if I just have a feeling "man, that can't be all there is to it") with I do very much enjoy to dig deeper.

With females you must always read between the lines. Trying to figure out chicks is something I both love and hate (like analyzing chess games). Forgive the genralization (which I have yet to find an exception of) but if you want a relationship with a woman reading between the lines becomes a necessary skill.

- Narz

 

[ferenginar]

I have tried reading between the lines, there is nothing in there.
Nothing
See what I mean. However, if you squint, and turn your head 17
Nothing
degrees from the vertical, then you can get a jumbled mishmash
Nothing
of letters, which you can interpret as anything you like. This is why
Nothing
reading between the lines is essential when dealing with women.


ferenginar

 

[Mojotronica]

When it's done well, the moment that it all comes together in my head is extremely satisfying.

That said, literary criticism is not one of my strong suits. But I appreciate people who are good at it.