Everyone has an ability of taking a mundane everyday object or activity and, as Ellen Dissanayake calls is, “making special”. Dissanayake uses this term to describe the act of making something more than it’s original purpose or function, by adding to an object or activity in some way. Dissanayake says that “making special’ is an act purely human, and that every human has the ability and desire to “make special” at some point or another. There are many examples of “making special” such as graffiti, room decoration, clothing, body pierces or tattoos, food presentation, and the list goes on. The key to “making special” is the intention of the individual, because it’s the extra meaning to the creator or audience that adds the aspect of “making special” to it.
Our mission this week was to either find past examples of “making special” in our personal space, or by “making special” something new. I found my piece of “making special” in my dorm room. This is my first time being truly away from home. So when packing for college I decided that I needed something that reminded me of special moments or people, as well as something that showed my personality. So I bought a corkboard and went through various pictures and mementos to find exactly what I wanted.
The items on this corkboard include pictures of family and friends: such as the two pictures of the adorable little girls, who are the children of close family friends, and the generation picture of my immediate family, which includes my mother, grandmother, my brother and myself. There are also memories of awesome moments such as the picture of me riding on an elephant with my little brother, and the small after junior prom party with one of my best friends. Even just special items, such as the valentines card I got from my boyfriend and a miniature sword that transformed me into a pirate for the night while another best friend and I fought to the death with our mini weapons. These things and even the ones that just represent my favorite things, such as the pretty koi fish ornament, the Oriental fan and the fairy sticker, are all important to me; and have helped in the “making special” of not only my corkboard but also my room.
Memories, that dimension of the past, seems to be a huge part of your making special. More then marking the present, you value the experiences you have had. Its a lovely touch specially in a dorm; such embellishment of the present reality. An act of making special has so many manifestation, thanks for sharing yours.
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