The preface, introduction, and first two chapters of "They Say I Say" offer writers both a certain type of formatting for academic writing, and a defense for the use of that formatting. It's obvious the book will dig deeper into the "templates" described in the beginning, which are basically forms for presenting an argument and transitioning smoothly in our own writing.
While reading this section I was struck by the idea that writers can either choose to use templates to construct bland, mechanical, formulaic prose, or use them to write with more freedom than usual because the templates have allowed them some extra room to be creative. In the case of the former, the templates would end up being crutches to support the weak ideas of a person either uninterested or uninspired. In the case of the later, the templates would be used strictly as tools to help transmit ideas artistically. When looking at it this way, it becomes obvious that there are definite disadvantages to taking the idea of using templates to an extreme, and there are definite advantages to thinking of templates as reliable, consistent, familiar places we can use as a sort of framework for our ideas. I've also come to the conclusion that how templates would be used depends entirely upon the outlook, experience, and most of all the desire of the writer.
Although I agree that it's "silly" to expect neophytes to stumble on these templates all on their own, I do believe a writer who has experimented enough could end up using them in his or her work without even being able to identify them. In other words, I think that at a certain point in their growth, writers could use the structure of a particular template much the same way they could use metaphor, simile, metonymy, or any other figure of speech, without any understanding at all that what they are doing has been recognized and catalogued as a literary concept. However, the big problem with templates, as far as I can see, would be in handing them over to a novice without first explaining thoroughly and convincingly that they are a tool and not a crutch. That they can be used creatively is without question, but that just like metaphor or simile, they can also be used sloppily.
A perfect example of using the concept behind a template creatively, and almost invisibly, is shown when the authors point to the inspired way Zora Neal Hurston put her own brand on the template for "they say" in the sentence, "I remember the day I became colored" (xii). And I'd be willing to bet my last lone dollar she didn't even know she was doing something that now has an identifiable name. This identification process could only have come from dissecting the work of exceptional writers, like Hurston, who are the true creators of the templates, much the same way Sophocles was the true creator and Aristotle simply the dissector of the perfect Greek tragedy.
On page ten, the authors also talk about how the best improvisational jazz musicians must have some familiar place to come back to when things start breaking down -- or reaching critical mass. Dwelling on that idea, I realized that without the grand template of the Octave, and the smaller template of individual musical scales, jazz would never have been born... or any other form of Western music for that matter. I immediately thought of the structure of all uniquely American music, and once again wondered what our music would be like if not rooted in the 12 bar blues. Templates are everywhere. Aristotle's topoi are templates; templates are found in music, in art, in life itself. So why not try to creatively use the templates these authors discovered when we sit down to express ourselves?
Once again, I can see how a writer, especially one who is not interested in writing well, could use a template in an attempt to skate with a wave and a smile right on by his or her readers. However, if those readers happen to be people who enjoy reading something with at least a tinge of depth and originality, sloppy use of templates will be a glaring deterrent. On the other hand, if the writer has, more than anything else, a true desire to communicate ideas and felling about the subject at hand, then there's a good chance templates will serve as a decent framework or point of reference that allows him or her to be more creative -- kind of like how a good base player and drummer will hold up the bottom end to allow the rhythm and lead to soar a bit.
1 comment:
I like your point that a writer could use a template in much the same way they use metaphors or figures of speech. This is so true, since writers do what is enjoyable to them. With practice, interchanging writing templates could be as easy as interchanging blog layouts and more productive, too!
Post a Comment