Umph
I don't like it when things that I am supposed to like disappoint me. I hate the lack of Umph. Justin has written about The Decemberists as if they are great. And they are great. On paper. And then you have people like Hunter S. Thomson. Whether you like his words or not, you have to admit he has an overload of Umph. Had an overload of Umph. He had so much, I guess he had to blow it out his head.
Anyway, my point is when I look at the creative work that I producing lately I don't see Umph. I see improvement from before, but I don't see what I want to. I want people to see my work and go, "Hey! Well, well, well . . . I'll be! Somebody slap me with a wet noodle cause I'm going down!" As opposed to, "Yeah, you got a pretty good use of color here. I'd like to see some more eyeballs, however. Oh yeah, and some blah and less blah."
Umph. Some people got it, and some don't. I want it.
Anyway, my point is when I look at the creative work that I producing lately I don't see Umph. I see improvement from before, but I don't see what I want to. I want people to see my work and go, "Hey! Well, well, well . . . I'll be! Somebody slap me with a wet noodle cause I'm going down!" As opposed to, "Yeah, you got a pretty good use of color here. I'd like to see some more eyeballs, however. Oh yeah, and some blah and less blah."
Umph. Some people got it, and some don't. I want it.
posted by Stephen "Steve" at 2/22/2005 01:25:00 PM
13 Comments:
But ... isn't that what learning is all about? Maybe you need a change of scene for inspiration. Yeah, that's it. A change of scene.
Your art always makes me think. For what that's worth.
Posted by Jeanette
I thought the Art Garfunkel-doily head had umph. Or maybe that was red.
You can have some of mine, I got umph to spare. Or maybe that was boobs.
Posted by sara
Um, I think we are our own worst critics, and I think your post is a great example of that. It's also a great example of an opportunity where I can respond by saying, Hey, I think you have plenty of Umph. You and that wife of yours. But this isn't about her. This is about you. I think you have Umph. I really do. I don't know if this helps, because what do I know? Maybe I'm just a dumb little girl who don't know anything about the big scary world. But I do know that I've always thought that you have had plenty of Umph. And I'm not just saying that, ummkay?
Posted by Alicia
You're right about the Decemberists, i think we must have very similar takes on them. I want to like them so badly, and I do like their lyrics, instrumentation, tunes, and even their silly website. However I HATE the singer. He is just too nasal and precious. They need a new singer, stat. He can stay on as songwriter, but they need someone with simply a better voice.
Posted by Anonymous
you have ummpphhh!!! maybe you will have MORE umph after france.
Posted by cris
I think you have umph... but with the "h" in front. And it's on your back. Like a camel.
Thats all I got.
Posted by cory
What Alicia said, exactly. Sometimes I'll write something or take a photograph and it's a big old piece of shit. And sometimes I'll write something well, or manage to take a really interesting or inspiring photograph. Either way, I'm not impressed with it, and see the things other people photograph or write and think they are all so much better than anything I could produce. Thus, it's always a surprise when I receive an unsolicited compliment on something I made. "Wait? You *liked* that? But it's so crappy and there's this wrong with it and that's not quite how I wanted it..."
I think everyone's got the potential for Umph, but you'll never recognize your own Umph. It's when you start recognizing it that your Umph is in danger of becoming Ugh.
Posted by avantard
Ohhh ... Umph vs. Ugh! I like.
I agree, maybe it's a good thing we don't see our own Umph.
Posted by Jeanette
hey steve -
you happen to be around a bunch of people right now who make their lives out of hyperanalyzing what they see. just because a bunch of illustration students are wallowing in details doesn't mean you don't have the umph. The umph is there, it's the unwilling masses that are the problem. Don't let them drag you down!
I disagree that you won't recognize your own umph. My umph knocked on my door one day last quarter. I haven't been the same since. My, was it tall dark and handsome!
Posted by robbi
Thanks, guys, for the support. I really didn't mean to come off like the pretty girl who says she's fat to get compliments. I appreciate everybody's thoughts, especially when I get down on myself.
Personal Note: If you don't have confidence like that one jackass you hate, then fake it.
Anonymous, you really nailed it with the Decemberists summery. Much better than I could state. Butt, who are you?
Thanks, Robbi, for commenting on my site! Robbi , for the rest of you that don't know, has so much Umph that it makes a beautiful mess on her page.
Okay now. I believe that the use of "Umph" as a proper noun has been completely played out.
Posted by Steve
That link was supposed to be www.robbibehr.com .
Posted by Steve
Sorry, I was the Decemberists commenter. i forgot to write my name.
Posted by Justin
Maybe you're too comfortable. But not to worry. You don't have to change a thing. The Bushwhacked government will change your comfort level for you.
Posted by Deb