Less is more!

Why does the last bite of cake taste heavenly? Particularly after winning it over a battle with siblings?

Foreword: When I was in Make A Difference, one of the lovely teams I worked with used to count the number of times I used the word 'the.' So, I humbly request you to not add the instances I used 'less' in here. They will be more.

Less is more! This paradoxical phrase is often seen in architecture but has its perks spread to many domains, and this piece touches some of them. 

Spending all day at home for months, which seems eternal by the way, I observed that grabbing and munching small bites of crackers en route to another room, made me come back wanting for more. Though it made me look like I was hanging around the snacks counter, all the time, it got me into thinking.

Source: Shot on phone                                                              

If Monalisa's portrait had come with a narrative explaining her expression and the story behind, it would not have stood as the archetypal and enigmatic masterpiece, or as the most visited, and most written about a portrait, let alone valuing millions of dollars. 

Though I am a hardcore Androidian, I could see that it is the basic-feature concept that made the IOS standard and stand out compared to some of the extravagant specs filled Android. (Well, with the cost of a kidney ;))

The prequel problem

Um., I am sorry, but who invented prequels? The majority of them, I believe, only break the spell the originals were able to create. Giving away too many details and weakening the aura. 

Though the Fantastic Beasts series, a spin-off, and prequel of Harry Potter was successful at the box office, I had a hard time picturing Jude Law playing the younger version of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Fiona Glascott that of Professor McGonagall. 

Dumbledore in suits? Come on! I would rather prefer Dolores Umbridge in pink bottoms with cat prints on it.

Besides getting a few facts wrong, the series also failed at replicating the charm. Of course, we will be desperate for the details and stories behind many great things. But sometimes, like chocolate to children and alcohol to people, the lesser, the better. They replace the mystery with the 'oh!' feeling. 

History stored in a few more examples through Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings prequels. The more you try to show the world, or the more you reveal the mystery, the weaker it gets. Explain how a magic trick is done, and it will never look the same. Everyone knows what happens next, leaving no place for tension or a little drama. So, sometimes, the best way to preserve the magic is not revealing it. Seldom, truth disappoints. 

As the famous unofficial saying goes, 'A backbencher would stay more content despite the percentage with fewer expectations' and further, with the least worries on why he/she lost a half mark in the third answer. Perhaps if the secret ingredient was a spice and the dragon scroll had a list of points on how to become successful, Kung Fu Panda wouldn't have turned out to be a true hero. 

Back in school, as soon as someone presented a PowerPoint that looked like a mini-book compressed into small letters to fit the whole thing in a single slide, I would pretend dead. Leave the 'interest to listen' part aside; it would make the audience blind. Too much of anything creates clutter, while minimalism speaks volumes. One of the critical points where Instagram wins over Facebook is the time-limited video feature. Short and crispy, leaving the users wanting more.

I wish I could stop that person passing by with a little extra perfume that could kill the sensory cells of the entire street, and give him a piece of my dead sense.

In today's world, where everything is supposed to be extra-ordinary, staying lowkey is the new sexy. If life is a cookie, try not overloading with too many chocolate chips. Lean back, talk less and let the work speak of you. 

Cheers,

Chandana