Letterpress Printing....And The Words We See

I don't know if you are one to notice the shape of the words that surround us, books, billboards, posters, web screens, newspapers, business cards, everything, even the emails we send...the fonts we chose, convey something about us, a product, an idea... they immediately speak to our psyche and to those connections that we associate with type...we base opinions, like/dislike and other notions about things and people based, not on the meaning of these words but on the subconscious opinions and ideas we have been preconditioned to believe and associate with the shapes these letters make. Here is link to a web article about a Chicago based company called Starshaped Press that reminded me today about words and the shapes they come in...so take the lead from a friend of a Friend who works at Starshaped; you can see her thoughtfully working the press in the video link) and think about what you are reading to day...let me know what you think about the words around you. **And if you have any print media needs go local, they are the ones who are taking letterpress printing from the mass produced item it was to the artful product it is today.

My Oh My

I'm not sure how it is possible to be intimidated by ones self, but I have done it! I haven't updated in so long, but I've decided it was because I wanted each post to be so perfect that I psyched myself out so much that I didn't write anything at all. All of my OCD tendencies, related to this blog, will end now...well, I don't know about that but I'll at least try to write a bit more. On the writing note, I want to let it be known that I've read so many books in the past few months that I don't know where to start in describing and analyzing them all, so I suppose I will start with a list of what I've read and then go from there in deciding which one to write about first. A Room With a View, E.M. Forester Jeannie At Rainbow Lodge, Alice Ross Colver Chocolat, Joanne Harris Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin (In progress, my 5th or 6th read) And a few more I can’t remember at the moment

Thoughtful Dissent

I think that of the three blogs I try to maintain, this is the one I post on the least, probably because I always like to plan these posts more than the others, so as to be fully articulate on whatever subject, word or phrase I wish to speak of, not that anyone really bothers reading this, but if they do...I want it to be decent, really it's an excercise for myself more than anything.

Dissent v.i to Feel or express a negative opintion. -- n. difference of opinion. -- dissenter. n. one who disagrees.

I feel as though I am quite often the 'dissenter' in my studio critiques and on other general occasions, but I don't think that it is always a bad thing to disagree or have a negative opinion towards something, I like to think of it as having a positive- negative opinion that in effect, would neutralize anything... which then would give you the perfect base to begin something new.

Critique n. (kri-tek') * Criticism a critical review. Criticism n. (Krit' i-siz-em) the act ot judgement of a critic.

Note: Criticisim/ Critique --> The two words mean the same thing, but generally criticism more commonly suggests a negative evaluation than does critique. <-- [All Definitions have been garnered from The Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd Ed. so go find one and use it! ]

All of the words defined here are chosen following to events that have occurred in the AIADO department at SAIC. It is about time someone said something concerning the administration of classes and students at this School. I may be a bit naive or overly optimistic but when I think of College, Higher Learning and Universities in general, looking past the party aspect and into the learning environment I see a place where people can work together towards a common goal, [knowledge and self-improvement] there is no more student/ teacher one telling the other what is 'right', 'true' or whatever, a place in which everyone is there to learn, teacher and student, because no matter your age or background you have something to give, be it only a difference of opinion or view. That is what we are suppose to be striving for, isn't it? To see the world through another persons eyes so as to improve our own vision...

Books N' Trains....Or maybe Trains and Books?

Someone asked me the other day why I would want to buy a book…this statement came while we were conversing on the train ride to our respective homes. It took me a minute to wrap my head around the idea that someone else’s ideas on the subject of books and the purchasing of them might be so vastly dissimilar to my own. Let me put this plainly, I am a lover of books, period. Picture this, two people side-by-side sitting on the train, surrounded by crazy people at midnight or so on a Saturday night. What might be called a late-night dinner had just ended and although it went fine, it was just ‘fine’, the conversation if that is what you could call it was lacking and my thought was that it had been a little more than unsatisfying, on more than one level. Needless to say, when it just so happened that my friend was going the same way and was not adverse to conversation, I became a chatterbox, this isn’t normally my personality, but when you’ve been unable to have any decent conversations... well, one may go a little overboard. So from the bus stop to the train, the conversation flowed, somewhat haltingly at first, because of the dinner circumstances, but after a bit that impediment was removed as well. I was excited; I do love a good conversation. Well when asked this almost ludicrous question concerning the buying of books, I wasn’t quite sure what to say. I then responded by telling this individual that it made perfect sense to purchase a book, firstly because it would be something that would be read again [this statement came after the aforementioned individual said that it didn’t make sense to buy something that you wouldn’t ever use again, because you would read the book and not ever read it again or something to that affect] and that there are more reasons to re-read a book than the simple fact that you like it, but also because your mind never catches every nuance that a book holds the first time you read something. There are layers in a book, there is something new to find every time you open it and flip through the pages. I think that this might have struck a chord, because they kind of ‘got it’ and said that yes, there was a book they’d read in high school that they’d liked and might want to read again, they said that they felt as if they were really there in the story. “That is the mark of a good writer,” I said “when you feel as if you are a part of the story, that’s how I want my own writing to be”. I would have said more but the conversation segued, so here is my second chance, my thoughts on books and writing, my ode, my declaration of love. Pick up a book, feel the cover, the paper, the leather, or the cloth that binds it, the satin smooth pages or the roughened edges, smell the ink, the must, the ‘new’ smell that accompanies the crinkling paper. When you hold a book you are holding the world. Not only the world, but knowledge, innovation, imagination- a piece of something, someone- mind body and soul. It is amazing. Contained within the pages of a book are the thoughts and ideas of another human being, you are taking part in the pleasures and pains of another mans soul. It is that part that can whisk you away to unknown places and other times it is a wonderful thing. So, go. Get swept away, buy a book, and don’t just borrow it, because you’re going to read it again.

Lovely

Lovely /luvlee/ adj. Exquisitely beautiful. 2. Colloq. Pleasing; delightful. n. (pl. -lies) colloq. Pretty woman. Adj. 1. Good-looking, pretty, handsome, attractive, bewitching, ravishing, gorgeous. 2. Satisfying, enjoyable nice, pleasant. That’s what the Oxford American Desk Dictionary says about the word lovely. Webster’s agrees with definition although it is not as extensive. I would agree with this definition and say that the word lovely is not used extensively in contemporary language, not because it is inappropriate to the circumstance, but as is the case for much of the English language, it is not part of the average persons working vocabulary. This is where generally I would begin a social commentary of sorts, but I will refrain. This word is itself quite lovely...I can't describe the vast number of things that come to mind when I see or hear this word. Sunsets, My Best Friend's Wedding, Smiles and it goes on and on... If you can think of things that you find 'Lovely' post them on my comments I'd love to hear them

New Beginnings in Articulation

New Beginnings in Articulation A New Blog: Sept 28th- 29th? I just finished reading a couple of books and am halfway through another and thought that since I am unable to converse regularly with my literarily inclined friends I would just lay out my thoughts and ideas concerning various things relating to words. More to come later.