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sprezzatura
October 18th, 2018
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Castiglione wrote The Book of the Courtier between 1508 and 1528.
It's a fantastic read, if you've never tried it before. In the
book he introduces a newly created word: sprezzatura, defined as -
"I have found quite a universal rule which in this matter seems
to me valid above all other, and in all human affairs whether in
word or deed: and that is to avoid affectation in every way
possible as though it were some rough and dangerous reef; and
(to pronounce a new word perhaps) to practice in all things
a certain sprezzatura [nonchalance], so as to conceal all art
and make whatever is done or said appear to be without effort
and almost without any thought about it."
It defined the ultimate goal of the courtiers at the court of
Urbino. Look amazing at everything without trying.
Ever since reading the book in high school that has been my
personal motto. Even mentioning it "out loud" here in gopher
undermines the effort somewhat. Talking about trying to be awesome
at everything and seem effortless ... you get where I'm going with
this.
Anyway, I wanted to mention it for two reasons:
1) When I was thinking of a show for anonradio, my first idea
centered around sprezzatura, but I couldn't come up with a way
to make it a thing without also completely destroying that
thing. It's tricky! Try it in your head.
2) Some people these days are all too eager to "own" their
failings. There's a pride in being bad at stuff. It's probably
a generational thing. Showing vulnerability is cool as shit, or
something. I'm drunk and an old man when it comes to this
stuff. I'm of the opinion that if you can be a total badass at
every fucking thing, then you should be a badass at every
fucking thing. If you're a badass at 90% of the things, then
focus and fix that last 10% in the quiet of your bedroom until
you can be a rockstar there too.
That's it. The whole point of this was to tell you all to go be
badass at everything. Not good at something? Don't tell me about
it. Go fix it. No.. don't fix it, master it. Master the heck out
of that thing and then do it routinely as if it's no big deal.
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