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  • Essay / Tools of the Trade: Using Photoshop Rules to Understand the Writing Process

    Tools of the TradeA dark gray rectangle overwhelms the entire computer screen, remaining persistent in its constant state of bewilderment . Two fingers, thumb and index finger, placed anxiously above the control and the z. Eyes scanning the screen determining the points of error, two fingers faltering, about to apply pressure on the square keys. Then, breaking the millimeter gap between the fingertips and the keyboard, any trace of error is erased by technological engineering; the severity of errors, in weightlessness. The history of each step, cataloged in the “history” tab, any hidden source of failure; easily accessible, one click correction. The handy, insightful map of each step presents a detailed record of what happened. For Photoshop, each tool contributes to the combined effort of piecing together something of artistic value, all with a specific description and purpose; the writing mixes its forward-looking tools, forcing one to look for threads of useful information rather than having a unified presentation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Transitioning to another time, where the computer screen holds a Word document of disorganized ideas, fingers desperately applying force to the keyboard, compiling sentences for analysis. A book, resting its spine on my lap, spreads the pages outwards, exposing words of literary value, presenting a thematic argument. My mind, frantic as a difficult deadline approaches, tries to reconstruct something concrete and its respective thematic development; stressed and sloppy in producing an analysis paper. The original perceptions expected the course to follow the format of previous English courses: tedious, compacted in reading and writing, but simple to complete. Then, as preconceived notions often do, that initial belief crumbled with each new AP English Literature class period. At first, the analysis continually eluded me (and I continue to maintain that it continues in the present); this masterpiece intertwined and woven with subtleties and themes lacked the pleasure of clear expression. As a frustrated child tends to do with a difficult puzzle, I would force the pieces together, making them fit and reflect my opinions on how I wanted the theme to progress. Because of this constant aggression, my articles address a possible theme, but my own judgments about how concrete works distort the author's true craft; my personal impressions on the text, disrupting the real procession of the author's conclusion. Forcefully imposing my opinions on the text, combined with professional procrastination, produced a mediocre essay; an article that does not fully embrace the text to unravel its intricacies and reach conclusions on the theme in the context of my selected concrete elements. All the divergent threads of an author's message, which came together, slipped through my fingers, my outstretched hand only able to hold on to a tiny trace. My brain, which still relies on old habits, has reverted to methodical and bland writing styles. A single point overwhelms the essay, my words circle around and simply restate everything, without exposing the higher levels. And I stayed in this writing system because of the inexperienced method of analysis. As the blank format of Microsoft Word fills with mediocrity, my mind yearns for Photoshop to assemble something that makes logistical sense, something,.