<p>Prompt:
We value uniqueness and originality, but it seems that everywhere we turn, we are surrounded by ideas and things that are copies or even copies of copies. Writers, artists, and musicians seek new ideas for paintings, books, songs, and movies, but many sadly realize, "It's been done." The same is true for scientists, scholars, and businesspeople. Everyone wants to create something new, but at best we can hope only to repeat or imitate what has already been done.</p>
<p>Assignment:
Can people ever be truly original? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>
<p>¶Mankind, throughout the ages, has seen a plethora of outstanding artists and imaginative minds. Because of this, nearly everything creative or "original" in our time has actually already been done before. Therefore, nowadays, people can never be truly original.
¶The truth is, for many different respects of art, a tried and tested formula has already been created. Straying away from that conventional formula will only cause a decrease in audience and will not increase originality. Take song-writing, for example. Nearly every single song on the radio today follows the strict intro-verse-chorus-verse-outro structure. Using this structure is the only way musical artists can engage awareness without boring them with, for instance, a really long verse or confusing them with an out of place chorus. The topics that most songs cover in their lyrics are also very similar: love, relationships, and break-ups. Any new song that is made is just another set of notes and words that fit the template that is prescribed for all modern-day musicians, at least for the ones that aspire to be famous and successful.
¶Another art form that is also difficult to impossible to be original in is writing, particularly the writing of novels. In order for them to be interesting, every story must begin with an exposition, go through rising action, reach a climax, go through falling action, and end with a memorable conclusion. Plot devices such as foreshadowing are also timeless ways authors use to suck in readers. Many overused plot twists have become clichés, and many plot twists that have attempted to replace the clichés have, inevitably and ironically, become clichés themselves. Even character names from most books are taken from old Greek tales of mythology. Nearly every story written today has already been told.
¶Thus, in a world where so many masters of various crafts have already preceded us, it is difficult, almost unfeasible for today's artists to be truly original. That's not t say that today's art is bad however; it's still nice to hear a new lyrics or two, or read a book with fresh characters. But, whatever new artists do, they cannot truly make something to call their own.</p>
<p>I was wondering someone could tell me they think this essay would deserve. I think my examples aren't specific enough, for I didn't cite any sources, and my tone may be too casual. What do you think?</p>