I did not find this exercise particularly useful. While a cool idea initially, I failed to see any new insight into the English language, the process of composition, or the exchange of ideas. Thus the only thing that distinguished it from being a complete waste of time was when I theorized about it. If you had the same size font, had approximately four people write similar stories of approximate length, then mixed and matched randomly POSSIBLY that'd work out. The only real explanation I can offer for the relatively long time this practice has been around is that writers' vent their frustration with the pen by using the scissors. If one is trying to switch gears in their writing in a random but semi-fluid manner I think the human brain is powerful enough to do this without the aide of scissors; perhaps two human brains would be required, but that still leaves out the scissors.
I suppose I'd like to hear a good argument for this practice.
2 comments:
maybe because without thinking we will find something fascinating. "A method to the madness" type of thing. "Out of chaos derives... something good"
I like your idea that writers vent their frustrations with scissors. I didn't find it particularly useful either, as I can see using all the other skills and knowledge we've learned in this course at a later time. I just don't see my self cutting up all my text books and creating a new course: Crappy school books cut up that no one understands 304.
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