Something blue

I want to talk about pretension.

This weekend there was a lot of chatter about that term around the theater. It seemed like it got tossed around a fair amount when people were talking about the performance that happened. While everyone is surely entitled to their opinion, what I find disturbing about its usgae over the weekend is that it was rarely followed by an explanation. Mostly what followed that declaration was further indignance at the show.

From google.com, here are a couple quick definitions of the word:

making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or
distinction; "a pretentious country house"; "a pretentious fraud ...
ostentatious: intended to attract notice and impress others; "an
ostentatious sable coat"
ostentatious: of a display that is tawdry or vulgar

These are fair and if that's how folks react to something, fine. I would think, however, that if someone thought of something (a performance, a painting, a person, etc) as being any of those things, they would be able to explain their reaction. But why doesn't that happen? My first instinct is that its a combination of laziness and indignance. They are not willing to consider the object any more than what they have only immediately experienced. To think through it would not be worth their time.

I also wonder if there is a fear that after thinking about the object, considering it in a new way, they might find that they think of it as something else. Its pretty widely accepted that first impressions may not be correct and that getting to know something further can change that initial reaction. To use the performance as an example, I'm still mentally approaching the show from different angles. My opinion of this show, my thoughts on it, emotions around it, all will continue to grow and change as I gain more experience and look back at it from different perspectives. Maybe they'll allow their opinion to change similarily, but if they don't, why? Is it fear of having to retract their statement? Pride?

Regardless, I think its interesting to hear people react that way. I have to quell an immediate urge to question them about their feelings and explore why they have come to that conclusion.

Also, about the performance (quickly, since its late) - it was like having my constitution shaken. The postshow high was as if all the creeping haze, oozing silicone, steamed perfume and carmelized lipstick had invaded my head. Seriously, my brain felt like it was floating in that odd combination of substances. Trying to work after the show was difficult and driving away from the theater and the world constructed by the company was even harder.

[Images from Societas Raffaello Sanzio and gif composed by my talented coworkers. Right now I want to crawl into that silicon goo and hibernate through the rest of this dark winter.]