I read "The Diary of a Young Girl" but not as entertainment.

To be sure we should be aware of the real horrors in the world — we should not be naive about these things as they will likely happen again and we might more quickly recognize them as they approach.

The original post objecting to this article, expressed the point that 'art' based on pain is not needed? worthy? should sugar coat it?

It used the word 'art'. Then later post someone said 'entertainment'.

This really splits hairs over what is 'art' which can be painful, versus 'entertainment' which should just be mindless marvel movies.

One mans art, and all that.

Anne Frank was a real person with a real story. It's not fiction. I think there is enough of that kind of anguish in the real world without inventing it.

I'll happily read essays or opinion pieces about bad things that can happen. I just don't like things like, say, Romeo and Juliet.

Good point

The examples I picked weren't fiction. Which weakens the argument.

But, not sure we can say they aren't 'Art'.

How about 'Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe.

That is fiction, and painful. And is moving in a way that makes you want to maybe do something to improve the world.

That was more what I was trying to get at.

Art can't all just be angels playing harps.

I didn't say anything about what art is; just that I don't want anything to do with depressing material when the real world contains plenty of depressing stuff.

"I don't want anything to do with"

Sorry, thought we were discussing this article.

But we're just discussing your feelings, which of course, you can feel anyway you like.