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Resisting Metaphor

arfie
arfie
Both my fans and my haters seem to agree that I am quite clever with a turn of the phrase. Every single one of my psychotic breaks has found me so lost in metaphor that I might as well have been speaking a language from another solar system. On closer examination, with professional guidance, I discovered how easily a natural gift can run amok to become a vehicle of destruction. As one of my pros put it, "With great strength comes great responsibility." Additionally, metaphors often conflict mightily with physical realities. When a preacher preaches about "coming into the light" I should not be squinting and seeing spots before my eyes. "Pulling your leg" should not trigger restless twitches in my actual leg. Etc., etc., through the creative world of poetic license.

I have been waxing metaphorical allot lately... Focusing on keeping it real...

Reality checks welcome.
donnawanda
donnawanda
I know this is not what you're asking for but the way I see it, if we had to suffer, we might as well get to make art from it. Why not do some serious writing?
verasanader
verasanader
Being lost in any way and ability to focus at the same time it is good to keep with reality. All of us more or less gets into some self destruction.
Not sure I understood you well, but tried.
LeoX3
LeoX3
Sometimes, metaphor---any analogy---allows us to have an image that, like great art, evokes thoughts that lead to truth. And without it? I don't know how to communicate verbally at all about my mental and emotional states. Science is easy. It has symbols and formulae.

If distancing yourself from metaphor makes you feel more grounded and secure in communicating and thinking? Go for it. Supportive vibes all around.
arfie
arfie
Done LOTS of serious writing. Even been published.

However, when I "get lost in metaphor," my writing is as artful as Van Gogh's paint pallet. My verbal skills, as well.

Still sorting...
LeoX3
LeoX3
"As artful as Van Gogh's palette"? I'm confused. I freely admit to not being art-literate. I'm self-taught, which means "ignorant with a veneer of brochure-type knowledge".

Anyway, sort away, supporigve vibes. it's not easy trying to communicate. Words don't hold things very well sometimes, fo rme.
arfie
arfie
The art pallet is where the artist mixes their paints, Leo. Van Gogh likely used a piece of scrap wood.

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/art-palette-blobs-paint-brush-22075877.jpg
LeoX3
LeoX3
LOL, I paint---I have a palette---I was wondering what you meant by "artful"---I always flash to the Artful Dodger, and that sense of "artful"! Which, applied to a palette, just got me confused. (Reiterate: Self-taught. AKA dummy-with-a-book.)
Rizen
Rizen
I'm good at metaphors and abstract connections.
arfie
arfie
Me too, Rizen. In my own case, my greatest talent runs amok when I start sliding into madness. Nor am I attacking my greatest talent. It be a question of balance.

Not everyone has that problem. We are each unique.
LeoX3
LeoX3
That's interesting. For me, it's at its best when I'm not edging into the Bad.... Hmmm.... always fascinating how we differ and yet are similar.....
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