I just finished The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt last night. It was strange and a bit depressing at times, but captivating somehow, and I couldn't help reading it for hours everynight. The last chapter was so profound and beautiful. The characters were talking about a painting which the whole story centered around, and this just struck me...
"if a painting really works down in your heart and changes the way you see, and think, and feel, you don't think, 'oh, I love this picture because it's universal'. 'I love this painting because it speaks to all mankind. That's not the reason anyone loves a piece of art. It's a secret whisper from an alleyway. Psst, you. Hey kid. Yes you....An individual heart-shock."
I think that's what all good art does, it whispers to each individual something different, something uniquely meaningful to you. It grabs you and makes you feel like it was created for you and about you at the same time. It tells your story, explains your thoughts, changes your mind. That is the kind of art, books, music worth creating.
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