In your everyday life, when you talk to friends, listen to the news, sing along to songs, read a book or watch a film, there is sometimes a point that catches your attention. There is something that keeps adding to the story or repeating itself. This can be annoying if it happens often, or it can be helpful in understanding what is being said. Ultimately, however, it is unique to the person using it.
Recognition of certain artists or works is linked to the genres they occupy. When we talk about a genre, we will certainly think of certain artists (whether we have experienced their work or not). But this is because they have achieved a general reputation. So what do we mean by signature style?
It is not necessary to be a well-known person in the field. Anyone can have a unique signature style. However, the one that will give you the most originality is, of course, the style you use in your own field.
As you may have noticed, there are some words and way of expressions that we use involuntarily and frequently in our conversations. So much so that we think that without them we would not be able to fully express what we are saying. Now let’s imagine that we are speaking in a foreign language. Yes, you may have remembered them, sometimes we cling obsessively to certain words and expressions. In fact, our brain can even force itself to use them or fill in the gap naturally.
A singer I like to listen to writes the lyrics to his songs himself. Since I have been listening to him for years, I am also interested in the lyrics. The main thing that catches my attention is that he uses Latin words in unexpected places. At the same time, although English is not his mother tongue, I am impressed by his command of the language, and the unusual words he uses in his lyrics make me constantly consult a dictionary. This structure is the main element that attracts my attention and that I have found in the songs of his other albums. These are the hallmarks of his work.
Let’s move on to another branch. You are watching a film by Christopher Nolan. Then another, and another… What is the most striking resemblance? In almost all of them, there is a manipulation of time that unfolds in a way that is unique to fiction, that goes beyond reality and makes the audience question it, or a meticulous work done without the use of computer support in the shooting of scenes. We can see all this in almost all his films. These are (the first that come to mind, but I am sure there are other characteristic movements) unique to Nolan and give his work a personality. All of these values reflect his signature style.
Photo by Matteo Vella on Unsplash
Let’s take literature as an example. Unlike films, it doesn’t have audio-visual aids, which might lead one to think that remarkable points and signature styles are relatively difficult to understand and create, but this is not necessarily the case. Writers can express their idiosyncrasies in many different ways. In my opinion, the best and easiest way to understand this is to read every work of the author to which we have access. Of course, it makes more sense to read them in their own language.
Although I know I am generalising and emphasizing especially this feature, I think this is true; there are certain words that every writer likes to use. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, the sentences and words that are reflected in our minds in our daily conversations also find their way into the works, whether intentionally or not.
To be honest, I get a bit annoyed (perhaps because I am too critical of myself) when I see my repetitive words . I feel like I can’t find another one there, but in that moment I feel like it’s the word that should have been there when I was constructing my fiction.
I think this dilemma underlines the fact that I don’t have a signature style that is completely unique to me, I’m not sure. However, it should not be forgotten that this will be more understandable in the eyes of the reader. In other words, I think it will be a texture that is built spontaneously and over time, rather than consciously, and that can be observed from the outside.
Nolan must be doing however he feels like doing. Or does he create everything he does just to create his own style? I don’t think so, but I don’t know the answer.
Photo by Ash from Modern Afflatus on Unsplash
Pay attention the next time you read and you will notice the author’s (what I think is involuntary) repetitive and perhaps not commonly used words. These are examples of the author’s signature style, which does not accompany the narrative, but is part of the overall tone.
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