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TheLakeAndTheGlass t1_j1q6oxa wrote

If you’re interested in reading about it, what you’re describing is a concept called “death of the author,” basically a school of thought promoting the idea that the meaning of art is whatever the person experiencing it decides it is.

IMO, it’s a good perspective to keep in mind, but it also means ignoring authorial intent, and trying to discern authorial intent can be another very interesting way to think about art. So basically there’s two competing ways to look at art, that you can try to do at the same time - “what does this mean to the artist,” and “what does this mean to me.”

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Interesting-Emu3973 OP t1_j1q8vc4 wrote

I’ve heard of it before, I definitely agree and I could go on and on about different songs where I find that, an example that comes to mind is hotel California, the artists intended it to be about addiction, but I take it as the bitter sweet things you’re too attached to let go of. Like that one person in all of our lives who’s really no good for us but we keep around because we love them anyway. It’s the beauty of music usually being in metaphors

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