There's definitely an element of both in how I now view the universe as well. I honestly don't know whether or not free will is a real thing, but I don't think for one minute that predestination would trump it. Those two concepts can work hand in hand, just like creationism and evolution can. (Which, I'm not a Creationist, but I was raised in the Bible belt, so you know, I've had all kinds of practice smiling and nodding.)
I would argue that you can get hints of how the author sees our world even if you're reading fantasy. You can definitely get more out of it than the mere fact that they're drawn to those types of stories. It DOES help if you know a little about the author, but if there's one thing school taught me it was that you shouldn't shy away from drawing initial conclusions about the way people might see the world, because it could help you relate to them. If your conclusions turn out to be wrong that's also just as well, but engaging an amount of real world context with the text is educational. That is, though, different from drawing conclusions about what they're like as people. What we observe and what we are are very different things.
Of course, how people choose to lie about themselves IS very revealing. It's kind of fascinating, really. And I agree with the sentiment that we present our edited selves. It's almost a necessity. Even the people who know me best can't know me the way I do. Sometimes I edit myself in ways I'm not even fully conscious of. That's very much tied to the question of who I actively make myself.
I feel like I should send everyone who reads this entry a basket of chocolates and some condolences, because I'm really kind of frustrating to know. I think so, anyway. I'm frustrated with me all the time. :p
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Date: 2011-05-11 11:26 pm (UTC)I would argue that you can get hints of how the author sees our world even if you're reading fantasy. You can definitely get more out of it than the mere fact that they're drawn to those types of stories. It DOES help if you know a little about the author, but if there's one thing school taught me it was that you shouldn't shy away from drawing initial conclusions about the way people might see the world, because it could help you relate to them. If your conclusions turn out to be wrong that's also just as well, but engaging an amount of real world context with the text is educational. That is, though, different from drawing conclusions about what they're like as people. What we observe and what we are are very different things.
Of course, how people choose to lie about themselves IS very revealing. It's kind of fascinating, really. And I agree with the sentiment that we present our edited selves. It's almost a necessity. Even the people who know me best can't know me the way I do. Sometimes I edit myself in ways I'm not even fully conscious of. That's very much tied to the question of who I actively make myself.
I feel like I should send everyone who reads this entry a basket of chocolates and some condolences, because I'm really kind of frustrating to know. I think so, anyway. I'm frustrated with me all the time. :p