Final answer:
The concept of 'value-laden' involves attributing higher importance or value to items than their intrinsic worth due to invested resources or efforts. This is exemplified in literature, such as "I wandered lonely as a cloud," where the natural world is ascribed great value, and in theater, as seen in Papp's production of Lear which enhances the emotional intensity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'value-laden' as described by Gouldner refers to the idea that certain items or entities may be given a higher value than their intrinsic worth, particularly as a result of investment or resources put into them. For example, a Plummer case might demonstrate the tendency of individuals or societies to overvalue things because of the effort or resources they have invested in them. This concept is broadly applicable across various contexts, such as emotional investments in relationships, financial investments in projects, or even the environmental impacts which are often undervalued in comparison to economic gains. This aligns with the notion presented in William Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud," where the value of nature is emphasized through the use of literary devices like anthropomorphism and chremamorphism, suggesting that nature's value might be comparable to, or even greater than, that of human entities.
Similarly, in theatrical productions, an example can be seen where the value of the experience is amplified by the emotional investment. For instance, Papp's production of Lear adds depth and value to the literary work through the intensity of the performance, thereby enriching the experience for the audience beyond the literal text itself.