The Dying Art of Handwriting
In the age of digital art and electronic communications, the tradition of long and narrative letter writing is slowly dying and with it goes along the art of handwriting, or more specifically cursive writing.
I can no longer recount how many people that I know especially those of my generation (let alone those who are younger than me) who still writes in cursive style, and those still does are no longer following the ever strict rule of cursive letter, me included.
As you can see on the pic below, which is a photograph of one my arbitrary note in my Moleskine ( yes, I still write in a notebook), despite majority of cursive and italic style letter, I still occasionally use block as well, which in away, kind of disrupt the flow of the cursive it self.
My poor handwriting
Another poor handwriting, same style from different notes
It’s a pity actually, for cursive style are far more beautiful and stylish then a block letter. Yes, it may be less efficient, and in a way more difficult that the block letter and then there is also a chance that it will not be readable to some people, but there is no doubt that it has more character and identity. In a such that it is very much a mirror of your own characteristic and unique personal identity. Those who master the science of handwriting analysis can very much tell you how handwriting can reveal its writer personality.
It is to this trait that even today, it is strongly recommended that when you write greetings card, thank you note, or any personal note, it’s better you handwrite it, better still if you do it in cursive and using fountain pen (the stroke difference between fountain pen and modern ball/roller pen is prized by the fountain pen fans). Not only that its is more personalized and intimate, it also shows that you care about the person you write for, and you mean every words in it, because you make an effort to write every single letter in it. Same thing can not be said about electronic letter.
Which brings us to the underlying reason, on why I started this post. This post is intended as start of series of post that will follow another of my project of developing letter head, cards and envelope) that I will use for greetings, thank you and congratulation notes. More explanation on this will be discussed in the next post. For now, let me ask you just one question, do you still write in cursive ?
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how old are you? hehehehe.. no offense. i mean, i only know my parents or lecturers who write that way..
i think i’m so lucky i live in electronic era where i just type anything, because i have very very very ugly handwriting
Lol…
Dear Devi, I’m just a couple of years older than you. God honest truth ! But I have always write like that ever since primary school.
My handwriting as you can see is not an absolute pretty either, in fact there were ocassions where I couldn’t read my own writing hahahha…But still, my cursive is much nicer then my block.
And yes, we are lucky that our e-things can replace the function of letter, paper and ink. But I dont think that it will ever replace the value, virtue end satisfaction of traditional writing.
Even as I write, authors are still scratching their pen over the notes and artists are still carrying sketchbook around. And dont forget, one of the greatest literature of our time (Harry Potter) born by pen and papers over a cup of coffe on a sleepy little cafe in Edinburgh.
do you even know how old i am? (“never ask a lady her age” haha).
i still send real postcards all over the world, you know
I wont ask :p I can pretty much guess from your posts heheheh…and there are several pics that clearly identify your age.
Anyway, yes I know, and I admire that. I’m not so much a postcard guy (as a matter of fact I still have several unused fresh postcards that I bought in London and Edinburgh), but I can understand the fascination.
Thanks for the comments btw
if u meant the birthday cake candles, you’re wrong
hahahaha udahlah yaa ga usah dibahas
Due to further use of e-stuffs, my handwriting’s getting worse each day. But I still do handwriting.
And I agree with you, something that’s written by hand means a lot more than e-stuffs.
@Devi,
I would initailly return your your reply about bday with somehing witty. But since you ask “ga usah dibahas” ya udah lah…hahahahhaha
@Cathay,
Heyyyyy…welcome backkkkkk. If you think your handwriting is badm you should see mine.
Love this post.
To tell you the truth,I can write well both in block or cursive style. I’m (ehemmm!) well-known for my good handwriting. Ask my junior and senior high school friends if you now frown in dibelief (hihi…LOL). They appointed me the secretary of the class for several years in a row. I could tell you, some girls write worse than me, ughh..Pooor them!
It was a position of power because I was held responsibility for the whole writing-related affairs such as writing down summaries on the blackboard whenever a teacher wanted us to jot them down to study at home. It was killing me sometimes as it meant I had to work hard twice: writing in my own notebook and on the BB (blackboard). I had to use chalk, which left my palms’ skin hot and uncomfortably dry! Not to mention the chalk dust..I rest my case.
You’re right about youth nowadays. Most of them cannot write in cursive style. But I heard some Writing lecturers of English department where I used to go years ago make the students write in cursive style, which is good for them! Haha…
I miss writing in a cursive style when I was a second or third grader of elementary school. I had to copywrite all the proverbs provided in the exercise book in cursive style. I bet some of us still recall that.
Rihan, one day if your son/ daughter goes to school, make sure you buy them such an exercise book. It pays! In the future, no one will dare to complain about your kid’s handwriting. hehe..
P.S: You might post an article about graphology after this. It’ll be a scintillating post to read, I suppose.
Hahaha, ya you told me before. I’ve been a class chairman, many times over, class vice chairman, and treasury. But never as a secretary, I guess my notes tell for it self. Anyway as you probably aware, I’m very much a classic example of a classic and ordinary guy. I enjoy little things, I took pleasure from simple ordinary things, and I appreciate little value from even the simplest gesture. Handwriting, just like hand made, shoe, suits, furniture are among other things.
Now I think, you should write about graphology.
Owh, yeah..now I’m like a bragging old man ranting about my past ‘glory’. hehe..Chairman? treasurer? wow! quite an accomplishment! According to my experience, a chairman is either charismatic or oppresive. Which one were you like? hehe.
I was charismatically oppresive :p
Really? That reminds me of Hitler, who was charismatic and oppressive at the same time. hehe
I write in both cursive and print. It must come from my mom because I write the same as she does. Although her handwriting is much more elegant then mine.
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view.
I’ve been looking for this exact info on this topic for a long time.
I was going to do something like this a bit back, but I never was able to complete. it is great reading about your experience.
quite interesting post. I would love to follow you on twitter.