Thoughts on a Tuesday
From “Some beautiful things are more impressive when left imperfect than when too highly finished.”― La Rochefoucauld
Not too long ago I saw comparison photos online of a young actress who'd had a nose job. Funny, but I can't remember who - and the article actually was the explanation of why I can't remember her. The plastic surgery reduced her to looking just like every other aspiring starlet in Hollywood. Before, she had a recognizable face - now she is one of many. I think Jennifer Grey before and after is a perfect example. She's even said that her nose job ruined her career, which is really sad.
Imperfection is natural. The Japanese art of Wabi-Sabi celebrates this recognition of beauty in imperfection.
Long before I knew anything about wabi-sabi, I was appreciating the beauty of the imperfect (as I'd imagine many of us do!) My first boyfriend had a big nose, a crooked smile, and was far from the accepted norm of "handsome," but I thought he was hot! (Actually, back then it would have be "cool," - but the differences in slang will have to wait for another post!)
But, it wasn't (and still isn't) just about people who aren't perfect - it's everything. My house is over 100 years old, and although much of it was updated about twelve years ago (plumbing, electrical, etc.) the wood floor is the original. It is worn, scuffed, gouged, and altogether imperfect! A friend of mine who does carpentry told me he "aged" a new wood floor for a client and they paid huge amounts of money to have their floor imperfected! Why? Because it's beautiful - it tells a story - it's much more interesting and compelling with all its flaws.
Which, oddly - or not so oddly - enough, reminds me of writing. I'm not saying our writing shouldn't be perfect (although true perfection is probably unattainable, but learning to write better is the journey we're all on) - but our characters need to be anything but perfect! Unless perceived perfection by a character is the issue to be resolved (i.e., learning that not being perfect is all right!)
We all know that imperfect heroes/heroines are those who are most endearing and the ones for whom we root the loudest - those we admire, admonish, cajole, cheer on, and cry with as we read their stories. Their imperfectness is their humanness (even if they aren't human characters!) That is what we love about our dearest and most cherished characters/books - how we are able to identify with those characters and in that identification, learn to accept and appreciate our own imperfections.
Who are some of your favorite imperfect characters? I'd love to know!
Not too long ago I saw comparison photos online of a young actress who'd had a nose job. Funny, but I can't remember who - and the article actually was the explanation of why I can't remember her. The plastic surgery reduced her to looking just like every other aspiring starlet in Hollywood. Before, she had a recognizable face - now she is one of many. I think Jennifer Grey before and after is a perfect example. She's even said that her nose job ruined her career, which is really sad.
Imperfection is natural. The Japanese art of Wabi-Sabi celebrates this recognition of beauty in imperfection.
Long before I knew anything about wabi-sabi, I was appreciating the beauty of the imperfect (as I'd imagine many of us do!) My first boyfriend had a big nose, a crooked smile, and was far from the accepted norm of "handsome," but I thought he was hot! (Actually, back then it would have be "cool," - but the differences in slang will have to wait for another post!)
But, it wasn't (and still isn't) just about people who aren't perfect - it's everything. My house is over 100 years old, and although much of it was updated about twelve years ago (plumbing, electrical, etc.) the wood floor is the original. It is worn, scuffed, gouged, and altogether imperfect! A friend of mine who does carpentry told me he "aged" a new wood floor for a client and they paid huge amounts of money to have their floor imperfected! Why? Because it's beautiful - it tells a story - it's much more interesting and compelling with all its flaws.
Which, oddly - or not so oddly - enough, reminds me of writing. I'm not saying our writing shouldn't be perfect (although true perfection is probably unattainable, but learning to write better is the journey we're all on) - but our characters need to be anything but perfect! Unless perceived perfection by a character is the issue to be resolved (i.e., learning that not being perfect is all right!)
We all know that imperfect heroes/heroines are those who are most endearing and the ones for whom we root the loudest - those we admire, admonish, cajole, cheer on, and cry with as we read their stories. Their imperfectness is their humanness (even if they aren't human characters!) That is what we love about our dearest and most cherished characters/books - how we are able to identify with those characters and in that identification, learn to accept and appreciate our own imperfections.
Who are some of your favorite imperfect characters? I'd love to know!
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