The line

Part of the art--probably the most important part, actually--is deciding how much information to give the reader/viewer/listerner/all of the above.

What I mean is, how much do you explain? How much do you let the reader/etc decide for him/herself?

Many if not most of the most popular novels and films draw that line near one end of the spectrum--they explain almost everything, assuming that readers can't figure anything out for themselves. For example, if there is a character who is gay, someone is going to explain in the narrative that the character is gay, even though he is shown making out with or even having sex with other men. Because, until somebody (either another character or in the narrative) says it, then we wouldn't know it.

Others--less successful, financially--go to the other extreme, and don't explain anything at all. You have to figure out everything. Like James Joyce. I read his story "Araby" for a class once, and totally didn't get it--I mean, the story made sense, but I couldn't figure out why somebody would write it. The teacher had to explain it all. I still hate the story and can't bring myself to read Joyce, because I don't like reading stuff where I need a translator. That's the author's job.

So, my own tastes range somewhere in the middle. I'd figure out for myself that a character is gay--and won't really care unless it's somehow germane to the story. But when something is a metaphor for something else, and if I don't know that I won't get it, I get pissed. I don't mind working a little bit myself (films like Alien, and The Godfather, in my opinion, find that line perfectly)--there's nothing like unravelling a little something the writer concealed in the story that sort of adds context or texture. But if you have to pause after every sentence, parsing it out, consulting your handbook that lists what colors, tenses, letters, etc., represent, I'm exhausted after a page or so and toss it. Explaining every tiny little thing (Spielburg) makes me feel insulted, like you think I'm an idiot. Not explaining anything (Kubrick) makes me think you are one of those arrogent pricks who has created his own world and just expects everyone else to figure it all out.

Anyways, I promise not to condescend to any readers/listeners/viewers of my own stuff, though I will try to leave little easter eggs here and there for you to find for yourself that won't detract from your enjoyment of whatever it is of mine you are consuming. That's my goal.

It's the least I can do for someone who has the exquisite taste and unquestioned intelligence required to tackle my stuff.