The Troubles with Tragedies...

A couple days ago I was on the phone with my sister. I told her that I had nothing to do with my days, and she stated, "You know what you can do! Start your blog again!" I've been hearing this for the past year and a half, even from various friends. But I've been busy! And incredibly boring... Going to school and working nonstop left me with an incredibly predictable schedule and little to say. I have a year and a half to catch up on, I know. However, I feel as though starting out small is the best way to kick things back into gear.

Today, Daron and I went to see "The Great Gatsby" with my friend Brittany. 






In case you've lived under a rock, I'm going to spoil this 88-year old book by stating that it is a tragedy. I turned to Daron and asked, "And what did you think?" I already knew the answer, but felt it was polite to ask anyway- I was correct in my assumptions. Daron really disliked it. Daron holds a special hatred for tragedies. He avoids them whenever possible and on the occasions he DOES watch them (i.e. when I make him), he declares his dislike for whatever movie we watched- this usually includes a disdain for whichever characters he blames for the tragedy. (Today was a hatred for Daisy)

This is where Daron and I differ greatly. I love tragedy; I love the "heavy stuff" as Daron calls it. Sure, I also love comedy but sometimes I come home and I need to watch something deeply tragic. Daron hates the heavy stuff because he prefers fiction to be escapist, and he doesn't enjoy escaping into a world that's crappier than real life. I find this completely understandable. But why are some people, why am I drawn to the tragedies found in fiction?

I think it's because I connect to the tragic characters. They feel more real than the comedians, and I like that connection. Tragedy wakes something up in us; it reminds us that there can be some beauty in these horrendous moments in our lives. Of course, that beauty's usually just found in the movies/plays/books. The tragedy in real life is usually just sucky and gross. Maybe that's why I like tragedy. Because fiction can turn tragedy into something more profound than reality.

But I don't know, I'm not great at waxing philosophic. Why do you guys watch/read tragedies? Are you drawn to having a good cry sometimes? Or are you like Daron who would rather be the optimist?

While you all muse like I just did, I think I'm going to watch Moulin Rouge. Because what's more tragic than a singing prostitute with tuberculosis?