Blog Post 3.3
In this essay I want to explore quotes and how they impact and reflect my thinking. I love quotes and tattoos and in this paper I plan to take a look at my own views and beliefs on a wide range of topics through the lens of quotes I have tattoos of and quotes I plan to get tattooed later on.
In terms of the essay being a hybrid I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to do that but I think I’ll give my point of view from two different time periods in my life. This mainly applies to my views that have changed from the past and why they’ve changed. Ideally I’d like to also make this a lyric essay by somehow making it poetic but I’m not sure how yet. Although an idea I had was to take the quotes and use them as not only section breaks but at the end of the essay arranging the quotes together and having them form a poem.
Structurally, I’d like to break up the essay into sections separated by the quotes and then go directly into a stream of consciousness about my thoughts on the quote or what it means to me with no real explanation or intro into it. Almost as if to have the quote open a window into my mind and then I just, for a lack of better word, rant about whatever it is that comes to mind.
As of right now the working title is “Why do you speak?”
4 responses so far
I love this idea. For me, it’s about drawing deeper meaning out of the little aphorisms that punctuate our days and most of our lives. I imagine most–if not all–of us have some of these quotes that we like, or that we relate to, or that we’re used to hearing from people in our lives. The fact that you have a couple of these (that I know of ) written on your body and that you plan to add more is especially interesting. I mean, what does it mean to literally inscribe your flesh with words? What is the impulse that governs this choice? What does it all MEAN?? I’d love to hear you explore this choice a little, either directly or indirectly, in your essay. You could even include pics of your tattoos. Or stories about how/when you got them. Or you could interview other people with tattoos of quotes and include their reflections on why that quote and/or pics of their tattoos–could be really interesting! The disparate sections idea could work really nicely and be lyrical, although in revision you will likely have to give some thought to the thread that holds it all together, to progression and movement and pacing in the piece.
Hey Iordan,
This idea seems really awesome and something I would enjoy reading. I love quotes, and although I do not have any tattoos, I am fascinated by a person’s choice to tattoo a quote said by someone els in order to make it a part of their flesh, a part of them. I also like your idea of making no introduction and no explanation. I think this would add a kind of realistic hint to your piece. When we read books or stories, there are no warning labels and no introductions and no explanations. Just words on a paper and your stream of consciousness to interpret them and bring them to life. That being said, some quotes literally become a part of us, and a part of the way we think, and sometimes those quotes were ours to begin with, but someone els just thought of a better way to write it (i am not sure if that makes sense), and it gives us this sense of connection, like we are not alone. i am generalizing, but it could be just me. Anyways, I am looking forward to reading your essay!
Sincerely,
Sofia
I think this idea is awesome. I have two tattoos but I have yet to tattoo a quote on myself because although I admire many of them, I don’t think I have found one to live by yet. But that’s where some questions could arise – do you necessarily have to live by quotes that are inscribed on your skin? Or can they simply be phrases or words that you find genuine and beautiful?
When I was reading your proposal, I was also thinking of what Cheryl suggested. I think it would be really awesome to interview some people about their choices of tattoo quotes, and gain some insight from them. Maybe their motives are different than yours? I think it would be especially interesting to inquire about people getting tattoos of languages that they do not even speak – that pretty much amazes me. Are communication barriers broken at this point?
Definitely include pictures! Maybe even ones of people that regret getting them..
Hey Iordan!
I definitely dig the idea. I have two phrases tattooed on me and I completely understand feeling so strongly about what words mean to you depending on the time and place and your life experience. I think that the stream of consciousness idea is really great because that is the kind of mindset that I go into when I get tattooed – like a zen, all in my own head kind of place, so personally I would find that style of writing very relatable.
I think that you can use section breaks really effectively in this piece, even if you don’t put actual breaks but inject the quotes into your writing from time to time. Composing a poem by splitting up and rearranging the words in a more intertwined fashion would also be really cool. It’s kind of like making them more your own and reinterpreting them on your own terms.
Sounds like a good start!
Hutch