[ glou-er ]
Verb
- To look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.
Let’s Create!
** Either a story beginning, a story ending, a piece of flash fiction, a poem, painting, dance move—inspired by the word, glower, where does it take me? Where does it take you?
Wendy stood, staring at the square canvas hanging on the wall, her arms folded, and her eyebrows furrowed. Simple lines and arcs, painted in basic primary colors, stared back at her.
“What a load of rubbish,” Wendy muttered.
“You don’t like it?” said a woman standing next to Wendy.
Wendy turned towards her, startled another human being was standing there. Words failed to leave her mouth.
“Rubbish, I believe is your thought, yes?” said the woman.
“It’s just not my cup of tea,” Wendy said, hoping she didn’t offend this woman. “I don’t understand it.”
“Ah! Very understandable to dislike that which we don’t understand. Don’t you agree?”
Wendy took a moment to let the words sink in. “Yes… I supposed I do.”
“So, are you certain it is rubbish?” the woman said.
“I’m certain that I see rubbish.”
The woman said nothing in return but nodded in thought.
“You’re the artist,” Wendy said. “Aren’t you…”
“I am.” The woman smiled.
Wendy couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t offend. Can you explain it to me then?”
The woman turned away from Wendy, her smile still holding on her face, to look at her own painting of lines and arcs.
“It is a study,” the woman said, “of the contrast between the smooth and flowing parts of life with the abrupt and jagged interruptions.”
Wendy pursed her lips, and then couldn’t help herself as she blurted out, “That doesn’t make any sense.”
The woman laughed.
“Seriously,” Wendy said. “How on earth is anyone supposed to get what you said from that painting?”
“Honestly,” the woman said. “They’re not.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s all a bunch of nothing. Just my own curiosity to see what people will buy into.”
“Really?” Wendy said.
“Yep, and you’re the first person to look at it and see it for what it truly is… rubbish.”
Notes/Thoughts/Ideas
Modern art is a thing I don’t understand. I find a lot of it to be rubbish, but I also know that certain ideas in art are there to push us beyond what we can see to be beautiful or meaningful. I’m clearly not there yet. So, this is a call for help. Someone explain it to me!
If this were a story to continue with, I’d probably write it as a comedy. The main character is obviously lacking in understanding of modern art, just as I am. It could be a funny thing when the artist admits that they have no idea what their own paintings mean either. That they’re just trying to see if people are smart enough to view it for what it is. It’s a square inside a circle, not a metaphor for life!
Again, I might be sounding totally ignorant about it all, but I know I’m not the only person out there who sees these “great works” as children’s crayon drawings. So, I think the best way to approach an idea you don’t understand, or a trend you don’t understand is through comedy.
In the meantime… someone enlighten me, please!
What do you think of Glower?
What are your thoughts on modern art?
Leave your thoughts, your own story beginning/ending, flash-fiction, or whatever in the comments! Where did glower or my story take you?
If you liked this story, check out my podcast of short stories, More Than A Story.
Today’s word is from Dictionary.com
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