Many of the odd social media arguments over the last couple years -- from Scorsese v Marvel to teach Harry Potter instead of Nathaniel Hawthorne -- can be understood as being actually about uncertainty about what art is for. Which is a new development of the age old "what makes art meaningful" conversation. Rita Felski, the author of Hooked: Art and Attachment, speaks to Jessa about some of these recent controversies, why it can be profoundly irritating to be told a film is great, and why we can't solve the problem of art.

Support this podcast: http://patreon.com/publicintellectual