Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Let's take an example I read the other day about recent nobel prize winner in literature Kazuo Ishiguro.

He thought he was finsihed writing his book and coincidentally listened to a ballad by Tom waits which left such an impression on him that he changed the ending of the book that won him the nobel prize.

In his own words "The song is sung in the voice of a rough American hobo type utterly unaccustomed to wearing his emotions on his sleeve. And there comes a moment, when the singer declares his heart is breaking, that’s almost unbearably moving because of the tension between the sentiment itself and the huge resistance that’s obviously been overcome to utter it. Waits sings the line with cathartic magnificence, and you feel a lifetime of tough-guy stoicism crumbling in the face of overwhelming sadness."

This goes to show that insight can come from entertainment.

Also Kendrick has numerous songs with similar emotion evoking moments as the one described by Ishiguro.




Here's the article:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/dec/06/kazuo-ishiguro...

It's a great anecdote. I knew exactly what point in the book Kazuo was referring to.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: