We had some fun last week on the "Less is more" idea as applied to blogging: blank lines, blank comments, blank pages, blank posts... Things got a bit out of hand. I almost expected Graham Chapman's Colonel character to show up and tell us things were getting "far too silly."
So let's be serious for a moment. Minimalism is a concept that has been applied in many fields... music, art, literature, design, architecture... essentially meaning that the work is stripped down to its most fundamental features. "Less is more" was indeed the motto of the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. (Not often you see that name on a sailing blog!)
What are the fundamentals of sailing that we enjoy? Such simple things.. wind, water... and some machine that propels us using those elements. Why make it more complicated and fussy than it needs to be? Let's get back to basics. Less is more.
It struck me that the idea "Less is more" could be applied to so many aspects of boating... boat design, weather forecasting, racing rules, tactics, strategy, cruising, fitness, regatta travel, rigging, clothing...
Of course if you think this "Less is more" idea is total bollocks, as we Brits say, then write a rant about the opposite of "Less is more". Tell us why you absolutely need to own eight different boats. Tell us why you couldn't possibly go sailing without several hundred thousand bucks worth of electronic gizmos on the boat. Tell us why the latest incarnation of the America's Cup is the best thing that happened to sailing. Seriously. Go for it.
So here is how to participate...
1. Write a post on the theme "Less is more" (or the opposite) on your blog. Please publish it before Monday October 19.
2. Let me know about your post by sending an email to tillermeister@gmail.com including a link to your post. If you don't have a blog of your own just email me your article and I will post it here.
3. I will post here two links to your post. Every day or so I will write a post listing any new entries in the project. Then at the end of the project I will publish the complete list of "Less is more" articles.
Look forward to hearing from you...
7 comments:
less
but I am waiting for the next four ways not to die.. or something.
The "staying alive" posts will continue over the next few days Sam, but I thought it would be fun to kick off another group writing project in parallel. I think I'm able to deal with more than one thing at once. More is more.
I am spending entirely too much time reading your blog. The worst of it is I'm starting to think like you.
Now, I'm entering your writing projects before you even post them.
I'm sorry O Docker. Entering a writing project before the start signal is quite clearly against the rules. Please go round the end and cross the line again. You were lucky I wasn't flying the black flag.
Mies' other famous aphorism is "God is in the details." This also applies to sailing. Should there be a series of writing projects based on aphorisms of famous architects?
Now there's an idea yarg. Of course Frank Lloyd Wright said, "Less is only more where more is no good."
Good one Mr T - will think of something, and if that fails make something up.
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