Inanimate Intellections

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Inanimate Intellections

This week’s WANAFriday theme is: write from the perspective of an inanimate object.

Inanimate.

1. not animate; lifeless

2. spiritless; sluggish; dull

3. Linguistics….regarded as lacking perception and volition. (www.dictionary.com)

So, not to spin things too tightly, but how could something that is lacking perception and volition have a perspective? I mean, outside of Disneyland? It’s a logical fallacy. It’s fallacious, which is such an amusing word I had to use it, although it’s a bit redundant in context. You don’t mind, do you?

Sometimes I do the craziest things just for fun.

So what to make of this fallacious assignment? Go the Disney route and become a talking teacup for 500 words? I’m thinking that’s not really me. Instead, I’d like to borrow a couple images from Pinterest, pictures of solid and lifeless and spiritless things, then try and prove whether these ordinary objects fit the definition of inanimate.

But which inanimate object should I choose? Like, what about these books from www.dickensian-dandy/tumbler.com? Are they animate? Well, they can’t move on their own, but don’t you hear them calling? A stack of books begs to be sorted through, fondled, perused. Are they spiritless? Absolutely not. Every book captures at least a smidge of the essence of the writer, whether they mean to share it or not. You can parse the definition till the cows come home and I would still argue that books are some of the most animate inanimate objects around.

So much for that sophistical deliberation.

And doesn’t the phrase sophistical deliberation make you want to dance around the room? Or at least make a run for your thesaurus? How much fun is that!?!

Here’s another image for your consideration…

It’s a needle-felted Jack O’Lantern from an etsy.com shop belonging to a woman named Bella McBride. Now, acknowledging that we’re a bit past the Halloween season, I still chose this one because, seriously? Would you pick it up? I’m pretty sure it’d bite. There’s a visceral response – danger – to what is really just a bit of fabric and some thread. Look at it and tell me it’s lacking in perception and volition. That thing wants a hunk of your fingertip.

It is neither spiritless nor sluggish nor dull.

Therefore it cannot be inanimate.

Yeah, we could play in the ambiguities for as long as you like. It’s one of my favorite places – sorta gray, but then, I’m from Seattle. That’s how I roll.

I’m going to leave you with one final image, one I’m not going to describe in any way. It’ll be for you to decide what it is, and whether it fits the definition of inanimate. Leave me a comment…I’m looking forward to your perspicuous insights…which sounds a lot naughtier than it really is…

Peace,

Liv