Meaningfulness and beauty

So to clarify, I am looking for a book, but the background here is important. For reference, I'm British, so this may not apply to other countries.

I am not 'well read'. I take the view that "classics" of literature are so largely because of the tastes of a particular group at a particular time, and for whatever reason, they have more power/impact. I'm interested in something that is 'meaningful', i.e., it says something interesting, surprising, or different — so the activities of the middle classes circa 1780 — 1850 aren't really of interest to me, as a working class person in 2024. Whatever meaningful portrayal of the human condition they make, I can find it in less obnoxious wrapping elsewhere (I think).

However, recently I've begun to reflect that I might be too utilitarian with this outlook. Isn't some art interesting because it's beautiful, and that alone? I'm not religious and do not know the Bible stories that are depicted in Renaissance art works — but I still appreciate the art.

I recently saw the sci-fi classic from the 1970s, Solaris. I didn't really 'get' it, it seemed to make random detours that were not pertinent to the plot. I'm not sure I connected with it; but does that just say something about me? I did enjoy it as a film — aesthetically, it was pleasing. Is this alone enough?

I'd therefore like books that would help me explore the following questions — from any perspective (science, philosophy, media studies, etc). Both fiction and non-fiction would be fine, I just want to sort out in my head what I think about this and am looking for something that furthers that process.

• what is 'beauty', 'taste'? How is it culturally bound?
• how does it relate to meaning?
• what IS meaning? What does it mean for something to be impactful or culturally significant?
• is it enough for something to be beautiful alone?

I appreciate these questions are wide and nebulous, and it's hard to be specific about what it is I want to know. Please recommend anything and everything which you think might be helpful or interesting.