It can be handy, especially when you are trying to be tough and not point to what is really messing you up. Readers Digest used to have one or two articles that were specifically aimed at providing catharsis (dead dogs and dying old folks, mostly) so I would grab an issue, head too my room, and, half an hour later, be rid of the negative emotions built up over weeks.
“Merely” depressive here, so a bit of release helped. Drugs help more, and I can’t remember the last time I did that.
I escape to books and movies to feel good, not to feel sad. Also, I don’t want to come away feeling angry and other negative emotions.
Me too, except for the tall part. I’m a big sap especially when there are bad things happening in my life. I don’t sob but I tear up. I don’t like it very much.
This is me. I will carry the sadness around with me like a weight. I HATE The Notebook, which my FIL got me to watch, I HATE A Prayer for Owen Meany, or Odd Thomas. I have enough crap in my life. Give me some happiness
Spider Robinson once told Heinlein that he never read the last few paragraphs of “The man Who Traveled In Elephants” without tears in his eyes. Heinlein’s reply was that that was his specific intention in writing the story, and Robinson’s statement let him know that he succeeded.
I always have tears in my eyes at that point, too. (It’s not sad in any way, but it’ll bring tears, just the same!)
It is certainly appropriate to dislike material that exists to evoke feelings of sadness. But I don’t get the anger I often hear about it, like it’s a cheat that the art is “emotionally manipulative.” That’s why people make art. If it wasn’t supposed to be emotionally manipulative, it wouldn’t exist.
–Cliffy
Well, in my opinion, if it actually makes me cry/sad, then the fact that it’s good enough to do so makes me like it. If I roll my eyes, sigh, or even giggle and say, “God, I thought he’d never die” it often falls into the category of glurge, or terrible YA lit, or something. But then maybe I’m unusual in that things that make a lot of people cry often make me laugh…
Are we thinking of the same book? I know there’s a book called Don’t Go to Sleep that has a bunch of dream sequences, but I don’t think My Hairiest Adventure had any dreams. The kids put on the tan stuff and it turns out they were dogs all along…(yes, I know way too much about this).
I actually cried in the middle of My Dog Skip. There’s a scene where the kid is all pissed at the dog and telling him to go away or something. I don’t even remember the plot point but I cried and cried. “Nooooooo, little boy! Don’t yell at the doggy! He loves you SO MUCH!!”
You guys are making me cry.
True dat…
Oh, I think I cried for that as well.
However, the specific Stephen King moment I had in mind was:
In IT, when Eddie dies. It was so sudden, I was shocked and then I started bawling and couldn’t continue reading for like 45 minutes.
Certain Girls broke my heart. But I did just recently reread Good in Bed, and even though I knew what was to come, I still loved it.
Yes, I like the catharsis.
Damn. Forgot about this damned movie. God, that was just so shattering and…just cosmically tragic and enraging. But a quiet, resigned, defeated, futile sort of rage.
Ok, that movie I don’t ever want to see again. I’m glad I saw it, but I don’t want to live that pain and heartache again watching that kind of raw utterly unnecessary suffering just tore me up inside. That was just too much and too real. I think it’s the only movie/book/song I feel like that about. The funny thing is I actually bought the DVD, I covetously want my own copy. I watched the extras but had already seen the feature and couldn’t bring myself to see it again.
Yup, I’m looking right at it now. Sitting there collecting dust. Well, I guess I can tell myself I am supporting the director and the production in general for this very real and brave film, voting with my wallet like a good little Capitalist.