Ampersand

What's In A Symbol?
We all need a symbol.  A mascot.  A rally-ing cry.  Symbols are short-hands for meaning.  Crib-notes for the soul.

Amanda Palmer has a song called Ampersand, which I discovered a few years ago.  (Actually, I discovered all things Amanda a few years ago, and this song is just one of them, but that's a different story entirely.)

Amanda is what you'd call a prolific blogger, so I'm sure she's actually explained what these lyrics mean.  I haven't looked them up, however, as they have taken on a certain meaning for me.

For me the song is about growth and about not being defined by "other"--accept in my case, the "other" is really myself--the annoying part of myself that tells me who and what I am in terms that are limiting--the can'ts list.

In other words, it's an anthem of "You don't tell me what to do, bee-atch!".

The Attitudinal Type

So, it's an attitude thing.  It also helps that the tile of the song is also my favorite symbol in any typeface.  There is just something so sexy and imperfect about &.  It says, I've got curves.  It has one foot forward at all times.  It holds up a tray to show you, hey--I'm at your service.  And, it's there forever--able to be used in an infinite number of ways--see that infinity sign built in?

In the world of type, typeface, symbols, communication and meaning, it doesn't get any better.

What are your symbols?  Your words, sounds, songs, shapes?
What do they mean to you?

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