Challenge: Can you read what isn't said?

Readers are not mind-readers we are told. Only the written word counts. But is that really true?

We are interpreting any work of art in the context of personal and cultural background. No-one (I don’t think) begins reading a book with an entirely open mind (except perhaps the telephone book). We analyze and second-guess and hypothesize. After all, we want to know whether we can trust any of these characters. Whether we will enjoy spending time with them. Whether reading this will prove a colossal bore and waste of our time. (And if you've read up to here, kindly resist making the cheap quip you’re thinking of. If you didn’t think of it you’re a far better person than I am. Forget that I said anything.) Quickly moving on to...

The challenge

1) Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, listen to it e.g. here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AADs8tCoVzA
What is it about? If you know what it is about, you’re a mind-reader, having worked it out from a couple of clues (If you like, tell me how many clues there are in your view, and what they are, and at what point you knew what it is about.) And if you don’t know what it is about you are either very young (which raises the question, should you even be reading this? Or you’ve led a very sheltered life and need to get out more.

2) Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Cat in the Rain’ (short story, only 2 pages), e.g. here
http://www.english.heacademy.ac.uk/explore/resources/seminars/activities/handout...
Same question: What is it about? How do you know? How many clues?

3) And a very short (and untitled) short story by Bertolt Brecht, three lines only:
(From Bertolt Brecht, Stories of Herr Keuner).
English translation from http://aroundtheedges.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/you-haven't-changed-at-all/
Question: Why did Herr K. turn pale? Clues? Anyone?


Hints

1) Ravel's Bolero:

First here's a link to an inspired interpretation (not the solution), enjoy!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc1e7c_allegro-non-troppo-bolero-1977_shortfilm...

Hint: "It starts slow and steady and builds on the same addictive theme all the way to a crashing climax"

2) Hemingway's "Cat in the Rain":

Hit: Try saying "kitty' really fast

3) Brecht's Keuner story:

Hint: Think class-reunion: which kids would be pleased or displeased "to not have changed at all?" the prom queen? the athlete? the fat kid? what about the bully? the class clown? Why?

Have you figured it out yet? :)