the problem with trying to teach your population all the academic background they'll "need" while they are all still children is that you wind up with everything "cleaned up" and that's why people think the ancient greeks and romans were all these high-brow rationalist philosophers when in fact they mostly went around telling dirty jokes and calling each other motherfuckers and talking about gods fucking animals and watching lewd plays and shit

honestly this applies pretty strongly to Shakespeare too

Highschool English teachers: Shakespeare's plays are the Height of Classic Literature and the Craft of Writing

Shakespeare: yeah remember that time I wrote a play that was one big pun about asses

@InspectorCaracal shakespeare is just the time's equivalent of soap operas

@troubleMoney@computerfairi.es now see I actually do think Shakespeare's plays are extremely good but they're good because they're not high-brow, they're good because they're paced well and well-structured with an understanding of the importance of of comedic bits balancing out a serious plot, as well as appreciating that a story can just Be Fun

@troubleMoney@computerfairi.es like the whole idea that something is only high quality literature if it's pure and noble and serious and high-brow is exactly the kind of phenomenon i'm talking about which does human history and creativity a drastic disservice

@InspectorCaracal I'm not saying the soap operas are bad

I'm just trying to think what the modern equivalent would be considering the intended audience, sort of "stories for the masses" kind of thing