this was so on theme! the meaning of the artwork really does lie within the beholder, huh… i honestly feel ambivalent but certainly not apprehensive towards death of the author, which i feel you like flitted around here. having nero himself show up towards the end was such a treat especially with the build-up around his identity via elisa and xavier, only to have jin show up with nero the faceless in tow – and the irony of jin being the only one who doesn’t have a fancy, eloquent response in mind when he sees the painting, but still says something meaningful regardless.
i really love thinking about the role of art, regardless of medium, and the way we interpret it. if i’m the caged bird (the cage being society) (society being bad) then this is like the key! (the game being the key) (the key being good) ^_^