Terministic Screens

If you know me, you probably think I am a fairly normal person. I don’t have very many weird habits or obsessions (except about Brendon Urie from Panic! At the Disco) and my day to day as a student is fairly mundane. Compared to everyone else, my life is very similar.

You see that word I just used: “compare?” I think the process of comparing people has become way too relevant in our culture today and it removes any of the quirks or unique aspects each and every person has. You wouldn’t have realized I have an obsession with a 90’s rock and roll band lead singer if I didn’t share that with you–you would have thought I was pretty identical to the average Joe. But that’s the thing: there is no such thing as an average Joe because every person has different opinions, thoughts and views of the world around them.

A good way to really understand people’s different perceptions of the world is through the concept of Terministic Screens. This term was developed by Kenneth Burke, an American literary theorist, and it is defined as how the way each of us interprets language that overall factors into our view of the world. Burke states that language, symbols and terms “form the building blocks, the bricks and mortar, of the structures of our collective life.” A good way to think of Terministic Screens is by viewing it as the materials needed to build a house. The tools, labor and overall work put into the house are the symbols or language we use and the final product of the house is our own personal social realities. Our understanding of different words or symbols is going to change by experiencing different things in our lives, which together will form the reality we then perceive.

In my life, I have had many experiences that change how I view certain parts of our language, which as a result changes how I see the world. All of the different interpretations I have for words must be completely different from anyone else’s, because once again, there is no such thing as an average Joe. So, with this understanding of the concept under your belt, are’t you curious as to what makes up my terministic screen? If you were to put on a pair of glasses seeing how my experiences and language effect my view of the world, what would you see?

Well, first and foremost you would see the word “woman.” I grew up with a strong mother to look up to and many other inspiring females in my life. Being a woman is something I hold very dear to my identity because it truly is one of my main characteristics of what makes me Megan. My mom always taught me how to fight for myself, but also how to be caring, genuine and kind to others. People oftentimes describe me as very loyal, and I think it comes from my time spent with my mom, seeing her care for family when they need it the most. To me, being a woman means not only being passionate and full of love, but also striving for empowerment and always full of eager to reach your goals.

Something else that is critical to who I am is the word “journalist.” Especially nowadays, journalism and the media can either bring frustration or hope to different people–it just depends on the “types of glasses” they were. Ever since I was a sophomore in high school and I wrote my first newspaper article, being a journalist has been at the core of my identity. I have been writing for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until journalism entered my life that I began to I see the power and possibility for change a journalist can create. When most people hear the word ‘journalist’, they tend to think of ‘Fake News’ or a reporter on a television screen. And yes, those may be accurate descriptions in one sense, but that’s not how I see it. I see the word ‘journalist’ meaning a storyteller. A storyteller is someone who wants to create a platform for others to share their goals or aspirations in life and also wants to find the truth in the world–that is what I see in a journalist, and what I try to reflect in myself.

Another word that would most definitely be in my terministic screen is the word “only child.” Whenever I would tell people I am only child, it would be followed by an immediate frown or sadness coming from the tone of their voice, but that’s not how I ever viewed the word. To me, being an only child is one of the greatest gifts I could have ever received. I was able to not only spend much more time with my parents growing up, but the older I got the more time I had for reflection and personal growth. I also was able to focus greatly on building long-lasting friendships with people who may not be related to me, but are certainly a part of my family. To me, the word “only child” does not relate to loneliness or emptiness, but it relates to independence, courage, passion and constant development.

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Overall, my terministic screen may be very different compared to others, but personally I am very proud of it. It wasn’t until recently when I realized that all of these little things, accompanied with many others, are what makes me Megan. Sure, you may not know every single detail about me after this, but you sure know way more just by me bringing up three words. Don’t we always wish our life was different or believe that the grass is always greener on the other side? Once again, the process of comparing yourself to others makes you unaware of how truly unique you are and what power you hold within yourself. This terministic screens concept is a good way to remember how special each and every person is and how everything that surrounds our lives is what makes us who we are. No one is an average Joe and you can realize that by merely figuring out what matters, what is special and what is critical to your life–believe me, it looks different for everyone else. And after figuring out what my “screens” would be, I never want to take these glasses off.