style and substance

Style and Substance

- Rishi Seth

“All style no substance”

“A man/woman of substance”

“He is a stylish batsman”

“A perfect mix of style and substance”

What is Style?

Main entry: 1style Pronunciation:\ stī(- )l\ əˈ Function:nounEtymology:Middle English stile, style, from Latin stilus spike, stem, stylus, style of writing; perhaps akin to Latin instigare to goad

1: designation, title 2 a: a distinctive manner of expression (as in writing or speech) <more attention to style than to content> <the flowery style of 18th century prose> b: a distinctive manner or custom of behaving or conducting oneself <the formal style of the court> <his style is abrasive> ; also : a particular mode of living <in high style> c: a particular manner or technique by which something is done, created, or performed <a unique style of horseback riding> <the classical style of dance> 4: a distinctive quality, form, or type of something <a new dress style> <the Greek style of architecture> 5: the state of being popular : fashion <clothes that are always in style> , fashionable elegance <an awkward moment she handled with style>

Style is

Exterior shell of a message

The Façade

The outer Envelope

Style is

Personal, distinctive

The envelope, the shell

Which attracts you

Examples

A stylish film/photo

A stylish suit, stylish watch, stylish shoes

A stylish novel, stylish poetry

A stylishly garnished pastry

How to improve your Style

Your style is deeply personal

All of us have Style

So what does your style say?

Is it attracting the audience?

Distinctive

Appropriate

Attractive to the audience

Choosing your Style

Fonts, Colours

Images

Words, Phrases

Choosing your Style

What is Substance?

Main entry: sub-stance Pronunciation:\ˈsəb-stən(t)s\ Function:nounEtymology:Middle English, from Anglo-French, from latin substantia, from substant-, substans, present participle of substare to stand under

1 a: essential nature : essence b: a fundamental or characteristic part or quality2 a: ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change b: practical importance : meaning , usefulness <the…bill—which will be without substance in the sense that it will authorize nothing more than a set of ideas — Richard Reeves>3 a: physical material from which something is made or which has discrete existenceb: matter of particular or definite chemical constitution c: something (as drugs or alcoholic beverages) deemed harmful and usually subject to legal restriction <possession of a controlled substance> <substance abuse>4: material possessions : property <a family of substance>

Substance is

The actual content of a message

The meat

Leaves a lasting impact

Without Substance

An empty envelope

A shallow facade

A “superficial” experience

“A man/woman of substance”

The Food Analogy

Style is the sensory experience Taste Smell Look and touch

Proteins Vitamins Minerals, Carbs

and Energy

Substance is the nutrition

Style

Substance ?

Ice cream

Style

Substance ?

Fried fluffy snacks

Style

Substance

X

Simple home-cooked food

Style

Substance

Biryani

Dr. Manmohan Singh or Rahul Gandhi

Delhi Times or The Hindu

Britney Spears or The Beatles

Godfather or Sarkar

Testing for substance

Does it leave a lasting impression?

Does it change us, even minutely?

Does it make us think?

Does it enrich us?

Testing for Substance

Style

Substance

Perfect match of style and substance

Delicious Biryanimade of rice and meat

As human beings – we are attracted by style, but we are forever looking for

substance

Style is taste, substance is nutrients

Make your message as stylish as possible

Ensure you are adding enough nutrients

Thank You!

Rishi Seth, 98 11 64 24 42, sethrishi@gmail.com