This is a pretty hard question to answer, for it's really difficult to say that I've ever understood a piece of art completely. In fact, I'd be skeptical if anyone told me that they understood any piece of art to the fullest extent that they could. I also wouldn't be surprised if artists themselves said that they themselves didn't completely understand their art fully, for who really understands human emotion to the fullest extent?
But, for the sake of conversation, let's say that I understand the theory and all that behind the construction Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". I'm aware of some of Poe's personal life after reading into some biographies, and have also analyzed the poem on my own and in some classes, breaking down his use of repetition, rhyme, line breaks, etc. and because of this have a fuller, better appreciation of the poem. Because I know Poe's history which influenced his writing and the techniques and theory that Poe used to write his poetry, I find myself with a greater aesthetic response to his work.
Now, looking at works such as As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, I found myself on the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm not particularly fond of that book, nor am I a fan of Faulkner in general. While I understand the story and Faulkner's use of the stream of consciousness writing style, I still find myself turned off by his writing. Maybe it is because I don't fully understand how Faulkner writes, although I am confident that I know a sufficient amount, or maybe it is because I have never taken the time to read any biographical information on Faulkner to see what may have influenced how he writes and the content of his writing. Because of this reality, it may be that I don't appreciate Faulkner as much as others because I don't fully understand him, but, it may just be that I do understand it and don't find it appealing.
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