Maybe it’s just about having fun?
If you’re reading this blogpost I’m hoping that you’ve also had the chance to visit the ADR social media page. But even if you haven’t, this blog post will share more insight on some of the posts shared on the social media page and the general idea behind the Other Works page included on the website.
If you visit either of the two pages, you’ll see posts that include artworks and poetry. Here’s an example.
Inspired by Honroe Daumier’s The Butcher (1910)
I once read, an old Chinese tale, of a butcher so skillful, in all years he worked, of all the carcasses he perfectly stripped of meat, he never once sharpened his blades. After reading, I struggled to understand. To cut so much, over so much time, how could you never need to sharpen your knife? How could that be? Wouldn’t any butcher want the sharpest blade? But now, I think I’ve figured it out, so please, tell me what you think. The butcher, never once had to sharpen his blade, because it was unnecessary, the blade never dulled, that was his secret! Of all the meat he sliced through, whatever the animal, he struck with precision and care. The blades of the masterful butcher, never cut anything needlessly, or without purpose, because he knew, the sharpest leaves no scar, that was his secret! What do you think?
Before I say anything else, I want to take another chance to explicitly state that these artworks shared either on the ADR social media page or the ADR Other Works page are neither my work, nor the work of this imprint.
Following the guidelines set by fair use, I share them with you because they are the inspirations for the poetry I write. While I wish I could take credit, I can’t. That’s why the titles of these works are generally the artist and the title of their artworks.
All the works I’ve shared on the ADR social page and on the Other Works page has been ekphrastic poetry. Ekphrasis as a literary device can be defined as any writing that describes, depicts, or details a visual artwork. I understand it simply as any writing that draws inspiration from another artwork.
There were a few reasons why I thought it was necessary to write these other works and share them with you. When I started all of this, I was (and still am) this unknown writer with no prior publications nor literary recognition. But I still chose to remain anonymous. It was a challenging but conscious decision, because working anonymously can be beneficial, but it does also create unique obstacles. So I thought, writing and sharing these other works with you would help you view me as a writer. Maybe all of these works would help you determine me as this capable writer? But that original perspective is flawed with its egocentrism.
Being some unknown writer doesn’t concern me, I actually relish the anonymity. Honestly, whatever value you discern from anything I write isn’t a deep interest either. Achieving The Great American Novel, that’s the dream. My priority writing these other works is to continue finding different ways to challenge myself to improve as a writer. But even that’s not why I do it. Sure, seeking to improve is a great motivation but over time I’ve realized it’s how I have fun, especially with the particular device I’ve used to write. I’ve had a blast writing my other works because of how active my imagination feels playing around with the art form. That’s why I write and share my other works with you.