Repsonse to nicoles post

I am responding to Nicole's post question. "Question:Do you think a picture is worth it, when the viewer must know many obscure references and spend a lot of time and effort to even grasp what is shown?"
I think that it is absolutely worth it to create or observe a picture that references other things. Not only is that picture influencing you to expand your knowledge, but when you do you gain a better appreciation of the art. I personally appreciate things more when they have a purpose or a reason behind them, instead of when they just exist. For example, when you see a picture of a person, you just admire the aesthetically pleasing parts of the picture. Once you get to understand meaning the person has in the picture, or the influence that person has had on society, you tend to appreciate the work of art more because you know more about it.
Do you agree that you tend to appreciate people more when you know more about them? (excluding the instances where you grow to dislike people more as you get to know them)