I’ve
recently read an article about James Franco, which posed the question, “What,
Exactly, Is James Franco Doing?” In the article, it talks about his many
works in the arts, such as acting, teaching classes, he’s in a band, writes
short stories, but because of all his ambitious endeavors, it has left him with
a “lack of definition.” He’s done so much, that you wonder just exactly who he
is and what he is doing.
I
like James Franco. This article made me think about him and his achievements,
yet I never really thought about ‘lack of definition’. His movies range from
blockbusters to artsy, independent films. He reaches to great lengths to
stretch out and embrace his likes. But really, who is James Franco? What mold
does he fit into? Would we be surprised with anything else he attempts to do?
For me, I’d have to say I wouldn’t be amazed. James Franco hasn’t defined
himself as an actor, band member, writer, teacher, so I somewhat lost interest
in his continued new attempts in the arts.
Too
much, too little. It made me think about writers and genres. If a writer
spreads s/he wings and ventures out into several writing styles, do they lack
definition? Will readers find it difficult to connect with the author,
therefore discouraging interest in their writings?
In
some cases, spreading yourself too thin can cause an over-the-top reaction—an undefined
overachiever. With writers, I think attempting new styles of writing, such as
screenwriting, poetry, and short stories, only enhances their achievements and
makes us wonder about other possibilities. It’s a great thing for a writer to move
outside their comfort zone and try new genres. Sometimes writing within one
genre style can become one-dimensional. Then again, some writers want to be
genre-defined. I think other styles of writing help spark the muse, and bring
the writer to new levels. A writer showing diversity demonstrates to readers
that they are not afraid to experiment, and experiment alone heightens interest
because of the unknown—shifting away from the cliché and mundane writing styles
of so many.
Too much and Definition,
Bea
