Why "Elliptic"? Well, I enjoy the tension inherent in one of its definitions:
a. Of or relating to extreme economy of oral or written expression.
b. Marked by deliberate obscurity of style or expression.
On the one hand, I want to offer a series of musings about urban life, art, film, architecture, etc. that are clear and engaging to you without getting bogged down in the swamp of self-indulgence. On the other hand, I'm content to leave untouched some paths for further discussion -- hoping that you will tread through those and contribute your thoughts.
Subtlety is an aesthetic and moral value that is central to my daily concerns. When a work of art tends to "leave things unsaid," it welcomes you to fill in the void with sustained thought and analysis. Sometimes, negligent obscurity and a lack of meaning are mistaken for depth and subtlety. I'd like to discuss authentic instances of subtlety; whether they are found in our immediate urban environment, in a few fleeting seconds on celluloid, in a shady corner of the city or in the lucid layout of a subway map.
So, please join me as I try to chronicle fleeting instances of beauty and do slap me upside the head if I become self-indulgent [but, frankly, the right kinds of self-indulgence are virtues].
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