Design Charrette, ODD Semester 2023
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Six Words! What is not here?
“For sale: baby shoes. Never worn” is without a doubt one of the most well-known six-word stories, and with good reason. What is not spoken, rather than the six words, creates a sense of a complete and tragic narrative. Much is left to your imagination, while the greater backdrop is still based on emotions and real-world insights. There is also a sense of mystique around the origin of the story which adds to its appeal.
I feel that different people define a story differently; for me, it is about the viewer and how they choose to look at something. If there's one thing I've learned from my recent 'General Studies' class, it's that everything and everyone has a story to tell, and I think a six-word story just prompts them to tell it. They are like “clever advertisement taglines, that give you just enough about the brand and also leave you thinking.” The length of the story is more of a personal preference; some people might prefer elaborate imagery, but I don't mind how short a story is as long as it gives me something to think, feel, or relate to.
It fascinates me that when we consider who the narrator is, in Hemmingway's story, the narrative shifts accordingly. On first reading, it was a mother who is forced to sell her child's unused shoes after they are taken away from her. But it might also be completely different; perhaps the narrator is a reseller who sells expensive shoes and has posted an ad to entice some new parents who want to pamper their baby.
If the second example seems to be less believable, it is due to the same reason that makes a six-word story do well. It is the idea of a shared cultural understanding. When the world is more connected, everything is much more accessible, people have started thinking similarly because everyone's influences are also alike, and hence cultural similarities and appropriations have become more prevalent than ever. Apart from the obvious difference in language structure and the inclusion of rhyme and rhythm, this is also a way in which a poem differs from a six-word story. While some stories can be poetic, a six-word story is often based on a universally understandable point of view, whereas a poem can be abstract or written from a very specific point of view.
I am already intrigued with minimalism and have begun to implement some aspects into my daily routine, and the 'Iceburg' theory is another strong testament of the "Less is more" ideal. It has a fascinating and direct connection to six word stories. I like reading stories with complex and detailed plots but I believe Hemmingway is right when he says that stripping away details makes the story more powerful; the right balance is key; there is so much that lurks in the background when you leave it up to the reader to be imaginative. Furthermore, what if we were to project the “iceberg” analogy onto the reader, do they now become a subject where their understanding stands out from a wider hidden context of their background?
It is the idea of allowing people to draw their own conclusions rather than being literal; it is about that stronger sense of appreciation and belonging, we feel once we have done so. It is about what is not here. not apparent.