Monday, September 15, 2014

Commenting on Relatability

In “The Scourge of Relatability” by Rebecca Mead, the validity of the word “relatability” is argued, brought up by radio talk show host, Ira Glass, when he criticizes Shakespeare’s work because it was not “relatable”. After reading this post, I realized that Mead was trying to say that the meaning of the word relatable has changed from back when it used to mean something was able to be told, to now when it means “that it could be connected to some other thing”. I, personally, think that the meaning of the word has not changed, much rather, the way that it’s being used has changed. The word is used as a way to link yourself with another object in some way, but Mead mentions that using it in that way would just be a form for the reader or audience to flatter themselves in the same way that a the perfect “selfie” would. For example, when I’m watching a movie and the main character feels a certain way that I have felt before, I say that I can “relate” to the character, and that moment was “relatable” for me, but I do not do it as a confirmation that I am solipsistic.

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