So today I am going to talk about mode of expression, which is in a sense somewhat synonymous with state of being but is a more specific and precise term in its usage I feel.
Let’s start off with the twin pillars of existence as I coin it. Now, these are none other than creation and consumption. On first instinct, I suppose we would think that it is only creation that is a form of expression. For instance, you write a post on social media and post it. You draw a piece of artwork. Or even the classic – content creators. Even following trends as a co-creation work. What is that if not expression?!
And most would agree that it is really awesome to be a creator as opposed to just someone who consumes all the time!!
However, I have recently come to realise that it isn’t always the case that in consuming the media of others, we’re only ever passively consuming. Now, even in doing so, we can be expressing as well!
Just a quick explanation. See, when we actively create, we’re actively expressing through whatever preferred medium. For instance, I might prefer singing as a medium of expression. Meanwhile there are other yet more varied mediums like the language of movement in dance or the language of visuals in art that I simply can’t appreciate much at all. To each their own.
Actually, as I see it, in a sense just through our lifestyle alone we’re creating for real! Like, someone who walks 10k steps a day? Someone who brings their own food boxes for takeaways at stalls outside? Someone who firmly stays true to the vegan diet? What does all this say about them? See, an expression of their personality and values is represented therein! For that is why they made that lifestyle choice and lives by it!
Yeah, even the very clothes we wear, our fashion style!, is our expression, creation yo!
When we partake in any activity, two perfect examples being sports and art, we’re truly living out their expressions according to our own styles. Because everyone brings a little unique flavour!!! to the table in their expression. In doing the activity, we’re truly living them out!
Now when we consume media however, it’s usually what I would deem living through the person.
For instance, when we consume fiction, be it novel or dramas or movies, what we’re doing is living the journeys of the characters together with them and putting our emotions on their trays alongside their living of it. Two other alternatives also come to mind for me. Sometimes, these really are inspirational figures (yeah can be non-fiction) and we are seeking to truly be inspired by them. Sometimes, we just really love their energy. Therefore, we want to soak in it and let it rub us off, and that’s why we consume their media! Even if it maybe outwardly seem on the inane side.
Oh yeah, and there’s also one particular category that I must mention. Sometimes, we actually live through people like celebrities or our favourite!! sports teams. No, we don’t have the capacity to partake in these activities ourselves!! However, we support them and therein use them as something like an extension of ourselves! That’s also quite a standout occurrence of consumption that’s inevitably necessary. Living through ’em.
But today, I would like to stand up for a particular instance of media that I believe is severely underrated. This instance is none other than games. Yep, for from whence does the word ‘esports’ stem??
See, the thing is that in games, we actually have control. In fiction or non-fiction books or podcasts or whatnot we don’t, well, not unless it’s a visual novel with choices, but this truth too doesn’t really apply in that context. In games, we often get the ability to customise in order to challenge and overcome. For instance, we make our own builds! We choose which characters to utilise! And so on and so forth. Even if we’re following a fixed storyline in a role-playing game.
Even in those old arcade games where the customisation is very! limited like those that are just about completing levels over and over, it still does challenge your abilities. Basically, creation. We ourselves are creating!! our reality through challenging ourselves to overcome these hurdles through our inborn stats and efforts.
Just think of it this way. In a game of basketball, a basketball player is truly expressing their mastery of the sport in their passes, dribbles and sports. Hey!! Is it not precisely the same in the sense that in a game of FPS a veteran esports athlete is expressing their mastery of the sport through headshots, multikills and buying of weapons that fits their styles?? Is it not the case that in an MMORPG, a player is perfectly expressing their ability within the game through their own style of tank, healer, damage dealer or whatnot that perfectly clicks within themselves?!
Even mindsports like chess or go – it’s no different!! from role-playing games, no different from football in the sense that the player is really expressing their mastery of and living out of the activity by doing it.
And thus, we really must reclassify our thinking of games if we have not already done so. Yes, even the most basic ones like crossword puzzles or Crossmath or Temple Run or Mario Kart or whatever! – for I find that in general, all games test our basic inborn stats to some degree. For in our challenging of these games to surmount the obstacles they present, so too are we expressing our inherent capacities. And of course, if one so prefers, they can full well go deep into the mechanics of the game to master!!! it well, just as I like to go into deep thinking in the things I post about.
This truly is a good way to tell whether something is for ya! How passionate about it you are!!!
But anyway, the main thing is this – don’t underestimate games for yourself as a mode of your expression. For instance, I played the game Risk last week, and it really brought out my war commander strategist side! Otherwise, this side of me would have been totally overlooked and neglected! And just as say badminton brings out the side of me that totally!!! is all flow and reaction time, so can Valorant bring out the same in me!!! Undeniably!
So just as you live out the stories and/or expressions of other people in the media you consume, so too can you live out your own story and/or expression through the medium known as games! Perfectly!
Now in my personal opinion, the ultimate is to really truly properly live out and express all sides of you. For instance, my strategist side was previously not done at all. So maybe I’ll play more Risk! Meanwhile, my reaction speed flow side? Well technically, I do that through Beat Saber even!! Therefore maybe I shouldn’t overdo it. I’m already doing it enough!
Meanwhile, it is very important to know the level of excitement that an activity sparks in you as an active barometer. For perhaps something that is truly for ya just comes so! naturally to you and it flows and flows and flows whereas! If something feels like it flows through you quite okay but doesn’t exactly give off the same rush, it should really go lower on your priority list yo.
For instance, I just 100% couldn’t help thinking about this last night before going to bed, after I had grasped the topic of this article today… and basically one of my reflections was this very action of writing.
I reflected that for me, being a wordsmith might be at the very top of my list and the very highest mode of expression for me! It just is so truly me! Even beyond all the other possible modes that I engage in. And so, yep! I am surely gonna treasure this wordsmith mode of expression of mine and not let it down. I’ll live it true.
Similarly, I might encourage those of you reading this article today – hey, why not do a similar inventory of all your mode of expressions? Yeah, I totally get it. Some people might be more specialist in function. There’s fewer things that you engage in! But still, that’s perfectly fine. Just make sure that you know your mode of expressions, and you’re properly! living them out nice and good in your free time if possible yeah? To a fullest life!
With that, we’ve come to the end of the article. I hope nothing important managed to slip my mind when writing this. Anyways, have a good week ahead! Till next time! Bye y’all!