I think that a significant component of the enjoyment of certain kinds of art comes from subverted expectations. When, for example, what begins as a lighthearted romantic comedy ends up with both leads killing themselves.
Subverted expectations? It’s Shakespere. He tells you they are both going to die right there in the prologue. Twice. Your just so story just isn’t so!
Okay, point made. ;) It’s still a genre-bender, though. even if Shakespeare does indeed warn you ahead of time. (It’s the “lighthearted romantic comedy” part that people don’t expect, these days.)
A more direct example in Shakespeare’s work exists in King Lear. Audiences in his day, who would have been familiar with the story Shakespeare adapted, would have been expecting a much happier ending.
Subverted expectations? It’s Shakespere. He tells you they are both going to die right there in the prologue. Twice. Your just so story just isn’t so!
Okay, point made. ;) It’s still a genre-bender, though. even if Shakespeare does indeed warn you ahead of time. (It’s the “lighthearted romantic comedy” part that people don’t expect, these days.)
A more direct example in Shakespeare’s work exists in King Lear. Audiences in his day, who would have been familiar with the story Shakespeare adapted, would have been expecting a much happier ending.