Language is nonsense. Or, rather, the way we use language to construct our conceptualization of the world is nonsensical.
Consider the notion of publics, counterpublics, and mini-publics. Consider networking. Consider any kind of metaphorical grouping of persons that tries to explain the inexplicable by rendering personalities into objects on a graph or a grid or a diagram. We use language to pretend we are one of something larger than ourselves, that each of us is unified in purpose and selfhood and that that cohesion of self is aimed in the exact direction as our fellows. Language squashes whatever individuality we possess and stuffs us into a public, or a network, or a category, and we are relieved to know that we match someone, at least.
None of it is concrete, but we act like it is. We talk like it is. We write like it's real.
Nonsense.
Oh man this post is so ironic and so true and I love it. Also ... I find it fascinating that like all people use language in an attempt to express individuality despite fact that this requires at least a partial surrender of it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, Esther, I don't know how I can explain how much I miss you but I do like I love the things you think about and talk about and just the person you are.