There’s been a dark divide whispered in the calligraphy community for years.
This summer, a single Instagram post brought it into the light. And I have thoughts.
The post argued that calligraphy is "suffering" - that the rapid popularization of calligraphy has led to aesthetics over discipline, too much commercialization, and a dilution of standards. It got 400+ comments, divided the community, and made a lot of beginners feel like they'd never be good enough.
I posted a response Reel, but now I'm doing a deeper analysis.
In this episode:
(0:52) Summary of the original post - what it actually said, why it resonated with some calligraphers, and why it landed so badly for so many others
(7:51) Is Calligraphy really suffering? - It’s more popular than ever. But is there too much of the "wrong kind"?
(10:51) The Legitimate Concerns - about people mis-representing their skills during the hiring process and what we calligraphers can do about that.
(16:56) The Human Fear and Selfishness Underneath - the quiet part that everyone’s afraid to say out loud, but that would lead to a more honest conversation and actual solutions
And finally, why it’s so important to me that calligraphy can be fun AND serious, welcoming AND disciplined, easily accessible and deep, all at the same time
This is one of the most nuanced, invigorating debates I've had in this space and I’m so thankful we get to have it in this wonderful, respectful community, with brave people starting the conversation.
THE ORIGINAL POST: https://www.instagram.com/p/DY7GWSlDFAM/?img_index=2
MY RESPONSE REEL: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZGB9GVvnzT/
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