Quotation From Atwan02

"The essayist does what we do with our lives; the essayist thinks about actual things. He can make sense of them analytically or artistically. In either case he renders the real world coherent and meaningful, even if only bits of it, and even if that coherence and meaning reside only inside small texts." -Annie Dillard

An essay seems to be a different and uncommon medium of art. Obvious examples of art to the everyday person off the street would be something along the lines of a painting, sculpture, or drawing. But what many people don’t realize is the limitless nature of art. Art can be means of letting one’s soul shine through in a new and unique way. Not confined to just what you find in a museum I believe that art can be found in songs, writing and many everyday situations. While an essay would seem to be a truly different manner of expressing yourself I believe in what Annie Dillard says about essays. There is of course the analytical, scholarly and academic side of essays which from early on in the educational process students are forced to partake in. However, the artistic capabilities of an essay are broad and truly as limitless as any other form of art.

Just as a song or painting are capable of evoking feelings an essay possesses the same ability. Words can be strung together is fantastical ways to create something awe-inspiring. Just as a guitar can play any limitless number of combinations of notes an essay may be composed of any combination of words that can be just as beautiful as musical instruments. Along the same lines a painting that contains a myriad of colors may be described in a way that is just as beautiful as looking at the actual canvas.

Essays, in my opinion, are a truly unique and very workable means of art. What is truly amazing about the essay is that though it possesses such artistic possibilities it is also one of the most trusted and reliable methods of presenting information within the world of academia. The multiplicity of its nature adds further to its intrigue and I am almost certain that the potential of the essay remains vastly untapped.