Buzz
Essay Prompt: Present your understanding of the quote: Style is the man
Present your interpretation of the saying: Style defines the person
I. Outline Present your interpretation of the saying: Style defines the person
1. Introduction
- Lead into the discussed issue: The quote by Buy-phong, 'Style defines the person'.
2. Main Body
a. Concept of style:
- Synthesizing unique aspects in lifestyle, work, behavior to form the essence of an individual or a specific group with characteristics distinct from others.
- Style encompasses various facets: Social life, literature, arts,...
=> Affirming the correctness of the saying.
b. Discussion:
* Significance of style:
- There are misconceptions about building style in life: Only artists need style, building style is superficial, showy,...
- However, personal style is fundamental and extremely important; it defines the beauty, charm, and attraction of each of us. Without style, one becomes dull, unappealing, lacking in personal identity.
* Importance of style in various domains:
- Every writer, poet must possess a unique style, a manifestation of their thoughts, life philosophies, portraying the soul's portrait to attract readers and establish a position in the artistic community. Without clarity, they risk fading among other talented pens. Provide examples.
- Singers and actors build their reputation, recognition, and position in the entertainment industry by cultivating a distinctive style for themselves.
* How do we, as ordinary individuals, construct personal style?
- Expressing personal identity in daily communication with people around us, in work style, in dressing and grooming, in lifestyle,...
- In culinary style, perspectives on economic, political, social issues, aesthetic views, taste, beliefs about philosophy of life, worldview, values, perceptions of relationships,...
- Being self-confident, striving for improvement, emphasizing and marking personal style in some easily improvable aspects, such as ideas, work style, fashion taste,... And, of course, you should never try to imitate someone else.
3. Conclusion
- Presenting personal reflections.
II. Sample Essay Presenting Understanding of the Saying: Style is the essence of a person
Every individual, when entering this world, is like a beautiful blank page, pure and pristine. Although it's understood that not everyone starts from an equal standpoint due to societal stratification, in the phase of self-development towards maturity and stepping into a colorful world, I am certain that each person consciously defines a unique style using the ink and brush of their own essence. This transforms them into a distinctive puzzle piece, securing a specific place in life. No one wants to live a mundane existence; everyone carries a personal identity with a desire to ignite and explore. Referring to the aspect of Buy-phong's style, the renowned French writer expressed an abstract yet clear definition of humanity: 'Style is the essence of a person.'
So, what is style? A common definition suggests that style is the synthesis of unique aspects in lifestyle, work, behavior to form the essence of an individual or a specific group with characteristics distinct from others. When people work or live, they have various concepts of style, commonly mentioned aspects include dressing style, makeup style, lifestyle, and sometimes, these are colloquially referred to as 'ways' like way of living, way of dressing, way of speaking. In literature and art, artists are affirmed through their works with artistic style, language style, creative style, expressive style, etc. In any field, style can emerge, seemingly contributing to life, making it colorful and distinguishable. Hence, Buy-phong's statement 'Style is the essence of a person' is a valid perspective; an individual encompasses various styles in different fields, combining to create their personal identity. Conversely, style contributes tiny building blocks to form a complete entity in society. Everyone has a style; the crucial aspect is whether they recognize and embrace it.
Before discussing the style of ordinary people in society, should we live without constructing our style? Sometimes, I hear opinions suggesting that style is too far-fetched for ordinary life; normal people should live modestly without competing to portray various styles, which might seem ostentatious and futile. However, that perspective is profoundly mistaken. The first mistake is that most of us haven't grasped the definition of style. People often mistakenly think style is reserved for celebrities, artists, using terms widely seen in the media like 'sexy style,' 'youthful style,' 'fashion style,' or in literature, students are most familiar with the term 'artistic style.' Invisibly, this makes us separate from affirming our personal identity by constructing style. Instead, we tend to deviate with seemingly assertive actions that are, in reality, childish and amusing. Each of us needs to understand that personal style is fundamental and crucial; it defines our beauty, charm, and attraction. Without style, one becomes dull and unattractive. Most importantly, a life lacking in style can lead to dissatisfaction, boredom, as having a personal style silently satisfies your ego, making you feel content at least in asserting yourself in some aspect.
I will illustrate the significance of style in various fields, with literature being the most representative and familiar. Works are often considered an artist's passionate legacy, with both content and art being highlighted. Despite shared themes, each author leaves specific impressions through their artistic style and perspective they cultivate during the creative process. For instance, Thach Lam's narrative style disregards plot intricacies, yet his works exude romance, melancholy, and uniquely depict mundane yet profound aspects of life. On the other hand, Nguyen Cong Hoan explores the plight of individuals under colonial rule with a humorous writing style, concealing deep sorrow for their fate. Vụ Trọng Phụng, in contrast, presents a more forceful and sometimes shocking narrative. Nam Cao adopts a simple, touching style, laden with life philosophies. In modern Vietnamese poetry, Quang Dung emerges as a talented romantic, Tố Hữu embodies revolutionary ideals deeply tied to the nation and people, and Nguyen Khoa Diem employs profound philosophical discourse using folk cultural materials. In summary, writers and poets must have their distinct style, expressing their thoughts, life philosophies, and soul's portrait to attract readers and establish a position in the artistic community; otherwise, they risk fading among other talented pens.
Now, let's delve into the artists in other art fields like singers, actors, and models. Particularly, young people like us are familiar with the Korean entertainment industry, where hundreds of music groups debut annually, but only a few become the new generation's stars. How do they achieve fame? The sole method is by affirming their music and idol style. Music genres vary from pop ballad, dance, to rock, while idol images can be energetic, cute, strong, or warm. The harmonization of these factors creates a lasting impression on the audience, making it easy for them to recognize and differentiate when recalling a singer or music group. This significantly aids in establishing their names in the industry.
Alongside question number 2, essay exercise number 5, Literature 12: Present your understanding of the statement: 'Style is the person.' Students can explore further by reading: Why can it be said that genuine literature has the ability to humanize individuals? In a letter discussing literature, Nguyen Van Sieu wrote: 'Literature (...) has worthy and unworthy types.... Express your opinion on the above perception, The literary landscape of Vietnam after the August 1945 Revolution is primarily characterized by epic and romantic inspiration. Please express your viewpoint on this assessment. Also, share your perspective on the opinion of French writer La Bo-ruy-e: 'When a work elevates our spirit and evokes noble and courageous feelings, there is no need to seek any principle to evaluate it anymore: it is a good book created by an artist.'
