Friday, September 7, 2007

Shapes and Lines



All of these examples could be seen as both lines and shapes. The definition between line and shape is a blurry one, and as we can see, lines can create shapes, and shapes can create lines. What makes a line in my eyes, is a form moving from one point to the other. Direction, size, movement... all are inconsequential when thinking about lines because lines can be anything. It doesn't even need to be a solid line -- dots placed in a sequence can create lines, despite the fact that they don't touch. Shapes can also create the same effect. One might look at a shape and identify it as such because it's made of component lines and has a sense of organization to it, but you might also say that it is one continuous line that just happens to be in the shape of something; does that mean it's a shape, or a line?

Example A could be seen as both a line and a shape. From the line standpoint, it seems to be a gradually thickening (or maybe thinning) line moving in one direction or the other. However, this effect is what forms the shape standpoint as well; as the line gets thicker moving from left to right, its edges stay straight and the end is stopped with a solid line thus creating a triangle.

Example B might also be seen as both a shape and a line. It took has the effect of weight added to it, getting heavier in the middle and thinning out on both ends. It doesn't form a shape that we have a name for like "triangle" or "square", but it has mass to it undoubtedly.

Example C is definitely both a line and a shape. Immediatly you can identify it as a rectangle -- an obvious shape. However, it might also be a line. It is a solid form and moving from one end to the other, can be seen as a very thick line. As well, as a rectangle it is made up of four line segments that touch at the corners -- is it one continuous line, or do they count as segments? Or does it even matter? Regardless, example C is irrefutably a shape as well as a line.

Example D flows around organically. It's form is rounded and it is an enclosed shape. However, the shape's movement gives it the quality of a line -- it moves from one point to another.

Thus, I believe that all of these are both shapes and lines. Lines and shapes are interdependent -- one could not necessarily exist without the other.

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