On Writing

In Thursday's class (January 8th), we read a passage from Montaigne's Essays that lays out some of the differences between formal, traditional essays and the kind of personal essays that he was writing (and don't you love the ZZ Top-beard Michel is sporting in this painting?). With that reading and that distinction as background, I thought it would be a good idea for your first blog post to be on the subject of writing. Call it "On Writing." It should be at least 250 words long and I will not put any further restrictions on it than that.

Here is an excerpt from the passage we read in class:

" If I had written to seek the world's favor, I should have bedecked myself better, and should present myself in a studied posture. I want to be seen here in my simple, natural, ordinary fashion, without straining or artifice; for it is myself that I portray. My defects will here be read to the life, and also my natural form, as far as respect for the public has allowed. Had I been placed among those nations which are said to live still in the sweet freedom of nature's first laws, I assure you I should very gladly have portrayed myself here entire and wholly naked. Thus, reader, I am myself the matter of my book; you would be unreasonable to spend your leisure on so frivolous and vain a subject."

Note the language Montaigne uses to describe the kind of essays he writes—“simple,” “natural,” “ordinary,” “frivolous,” “vain,” “naked”--and the language he uses to describe more traditional writing--"bedecked," "studied," and “ artifice.” We will revisit this contrast between personal essays and academic/critical essays throughout the course.