Tag: #dailyprompt

No, It is Not Genius. You’re Not Genius. There is No Genius Here.

What is a word you feel that too many people use?

I have … several … words that I believe have seeped into the social fabric as overused and overrated vocabulary. Words used so often they don’t have any meaning left except as placeholders or hollow props to push a point. But one word I, as a storyteller and writer, really, really, really, really tire of seeing used at the drop of a hat is this:

Genius.

I see it everywhere online.

“Look at that camera shot! Genius!”

“Did you read this cool one-liner in this comic book? It’s awesome! Genius!”

“Look at what she’s wearing! I love it! The designer is a genius!”

“This music pumps me up! It must be genius!”

No, it’s not. It’s not genius. It’s likeable and memorable and probably technically very skillful. But it’s not genius just because you personally like it.

If I’m coming on strong with this, it’s because I don’t like it when people’s vocabulary is reduced to a handful of expressions and words to communicate a vast and varied array of feelings and situations. It cheapens words. Wait, what am I saying? Words are expensive. They must be, because so many people can’t seem to afford to learn any more.

Genius is a word with a history. The ancient Romans believed the genius was a type of spirit. Genii watched over people and resided in objects and locations. They were entities that guided and assisted people. They were an abstract, animistic concept with concrete benefits.

Genius evolved to mean an individual possessing remarkable and unique creative or intellectual ability. Geniuses are singular in their talents. They are rare, and often leave a significant impact on the world beyond that of simple aesthetic or crowd pleasing. Their minds are quantifiably beyond that of others.

Note that I said “rare.” Geniuses, true geniuses, don’t sprout up like dandelions. And yet, somewhere down the road, society lost the plot. It loves to attach the word to anything. And, I suspect, not because one truly believes the person or the work has intellectual or creative worth, but because of personal gratification. Genius is whatever you want it to be. Genius has become relative.

Maybe it always was? Maybe. But were Einstein or Turing or Leonardo da Vinci merely relatively smarter than the average joe? Or were they actually making remarkable and unprecedented achievements in their fields through learned and innate skill that is extremely hard to match? There’s nothing relative about genius. It is either present, or it isn’t.

This is not to tread over the achievements of others. Not everyone is a genius, but there are many, many skilled people in the arts and sciences who have produced amazing things for people to enjoy and benefit from. They should not be put down. And geniuses work hard, too. It’s the hard-working ones that we know about. But for the love of apple pie, please stop throwing the word around like confetti! Let it hold some meaning.

On the other hand, linguistic drift is a thing. Tragically, “genius” may very well go the way of so many other words with rich histories and meanings and become just another toy in pop culture’s box.

But not for us bloggers, right? Right?

Many thanks for visiting my blog. I post updates on my writing career, I muse over storytelling and fiction, and I reflect on the curious and wonderful things in life.

Music While I Work

What do you listen to while you work?

I’m no music afficionado or expert. If you ask me what type of music I like best, I’ll probably only manage something banal like “The music that sounds best to me” or “I like what I like.”

I have a pretty broad taste in music, though it usually comes down to music without lyrics while I’m working. Bear in mind “working” for me usually means doing something clever on the computer, so hearing words while trying to think about what to type next can be a little confusing. At any rate, while the types of music I listen to encompasses a range of genres, the origin of the music is usually the same: video games.

Sounds weird, doesn’t it? What do Super Mario Bros. and Pac-Man have to offer the music world? Well, after forty-odd years, it turns out that the music has, uh, evolved. A lot.

There’s a ton of variety, and there’s always something new to listen to. I rarely get bored. I often listen to music when reading, too. It helps my mind process better.

At any rate, it helps me get through the day, and that’s what counts.

Many thanks for visiting my blog. I post updates on my writing career, I muse over storytelling and fiction, and I reflect on the curious and wonderful things in life.

The Homegrown Charm of Amateur Theater

When was the last live performance you saw?

Not too long ago, my family and I saw a live radio play version of R.U.R.: Rossum’s Universal Robots at a local amateur theater. I am not an avid theater-goer, but seeing this performance gave me a new appreciation of the art, especially its homegrown incarnation.

Amateur performances are charming, and I mean that in the best way possible. I don’t use the word in the condescending sense of “look at this three-year-old’s watercolors splashed across the paper and table and floor, oh, bless his little heart, doesn’t he try so hard!” I mean charming as in witnessing the genuine passion and effort that non-professional actors put into their art. They do it because they love it and want to be part of the show.

I believe that all art has value. Amateur or professional, it’s all worthwhile if you enjoy it. Was the acting a little sketchy in places? Of course. Were the sound effects questionable? Sometimes. And did it have that coziness that is a distinctly different flavor of fun from the bombastic, big-budget hustle and bustle of professional theater and radio plays? Oh, yes. I went in not expecting very much, and came out thinking that maybe I should go to the theater more often.

Did you like what you just read? Are you a writer, or just looking for fun content? Do you want more, but are worried about missing new posts? Please subscribe! I post updates on my writing career, I muse over storytelling and fiction, and I reflect on the curious and wonderful things in life.

It hasn’t gone anywhere, and it won’t anytime soon! My first book, A God Walks Up to the Bar, is available on Amazon.com. Witness the modern day adventures of the Greek god Hermes in a world much like our own – plus with demigods, vampires, nymphs, ogres, and magic. The myths of old never went away, they just moved on with the times. It’s a tough job, being a god!