Last week during class we watched the presentations on both Six Word Memoir and Post-Secret. Both sites make emotional appeals to the viewer, creating a deeper personal connection. Their method of presentation and their overall structure greatly differ from one another.
Post-Secret is a completely anonymous user submission based site. Contributors from all over the world mail in post cards containing personal “secrets” to the sites. The director then chooses a handful from the many submissions and hosts them on the site for about a week. These secrets are completely anonymous and the submitter has no way of establishing claim.
The actual secret allows the viewer a strange voyeuristic peephole, deep into the life of a complete stranger. It also gives the contributor a feeling of relief, as they are able to share a secret without fear of personal backlash. The actual post card usually features an image that is in someway related to the secret. This visually illustrates either the secret or the emotions and feelings meant to be invoked. It helps the audience to understand and visualize the context of the secret. Sometimes though, the post card is completely unrelated, yet it still contributes a certain artistic value.
To me, the post card takes away from the secret. For a viewer the image of the post card is both entertaining, and helps to establish a deeper emotional bond. It sparks emotional response and appeals to our value of creativity and art. However, I believe the beauty should be purely based in the secret itself, and the concept behind sharing and viewing them anonymously.
Six Word Memoir on the other hand focuses on trying to tell a complete story within the six word structure. The site is based off of Hemingway’s famous six word short story “For sale: baby shoes, never worn”. Contributors use anonymous usernames, giving the site the ability to host a semi-anonymous community; made up of both contributors and viewers alike.
The actual “six word stories” range widely. Some are personal experiences, while others are larger abstracted ideas. The site does not promote either fictional or non-fictional submissions, thus promoting artistic expression and free interpretation of the prompt. Although some posts are undeniably vague, I believe this is beneficial to the community. It advocates for discussion and interpretation, stimulating discussion.
The beauty of Six Word Memoir does not come from any visuals, as no visuals accompany the short passage. It is purely from the text and context of the six words. It is completely crafted by the contributor and therefore is just as personal as Post-Secret. There is a sense of beauty from simplicity. In contemporary culture where we are bombarded constantly, and over saturated with visuals and over complicated/overly detailed culture, this site stands out. To create or feel a deep emotional response with just six words is a craft that truly deserves recognition. What makes Six Word Memoir amazing is it’s limitations, and how it makes use of different techniques to overcome those limitations.