/lit/ - Literature

I do have quite a concious onus to 'improve' myself in several ways, within which knowledge of literature, music, and film is held quite important.

So yeah, I definitely have an awareness of the 'image', but at the same time, I think the style necessitates the substance, and moreover I do very much enjoy all these art forms.

Nevertheless, my desire to appear 'cultured' etc. is still somewhat of a driving force behind my pursuit of them, but not the sole driving force. I couldn't really tell you definitively which one (desire for image or desire for knowledge) takes precedence.

I guess in a way image and knowledge are just two different ways of how cultural currency functions, perhaps even two sides of the same coin. Image is cultural currency operating externally (showing off to your friends), while 'knowledge' (your own intellectual satisfaction) is internal. So in that regard the two can't really be extrapolated, and will always have some kind of connection - although it's very possible for one to dominate the other. As such, of course it's possible to have someone's desire for image dominate the desire for knowledge to the extent of becoming vapid, but personally I think my actual interest in literature itself would disqualify me from that (or at least in some meaningful regard).

So yeah, I like reading. But being smart is nice too. If pushed I'd admit I hold intellect and learning to be essential to a fulfilled existence, but that might be besides the point.