About

icon·o·clasm
This word appeals to me. It has existed, allegedly, for over 200 years and has meant something significant to everyone who has ever coined it. I stumbled upon the term “iconoclast” — a person who destroys cultural icons — some years ago and it has appealed to me ever since. The meaning behind the noun, of course, but also the sound of it. My vocabulary had very few words beginning with I, and it was a thrill to add something new to the repertoire. I am a wordsmith at heart and love the English language and the sonorous aesthetics.

The sound of a word like “iconoclast” rolling off the tongue of a seventeen year old girl living on her own for the first time is like discovering your own island with plenty of food to hunt and gather; you don’t know how great it is until you’ve fully exhausted every facet of the new found glory. My whole life changes when I learn new words, and how best to use them. The latter takes practice, and even then a whole life time might not be enough time to use it the best. Most effectively, perhaps; but not necessarily the most inspiring way possible.

It was years before I would find out the term for a practicing iconcolast. Iconoclasm is the practice (or attitude, depending on the time of day and alignment of the moon) of an iconoclast, the practice of breaking images. Originally these were limited to religious images, often relating to politics, but I’m using it in a far looser, liberal sense. Interested in pop culture and all things aesthetic coupled with my love to write, write, write, I thought I’d give blogging a try. I’m a terrible mumbler and once again the sound of the word comes into play. I like the way iconoclasms forces the speaker to mumble through the last syllable, with that awkward “s” tacked onto the end. I hope in my forthcoming blogging efforts it will become clear to the reader why I feel calling my collection of writing iconoclastic befitting.