Today marks a shift in the mission of Craft Polish.

For two years, this blog has been devoted to ‘exploring identity, persuasion and influence in culture and communications’—a broad and inclusive practice of observing language at work in the world.

Week to week, posts have varied considerably in exploring a wide range of topics:

events in the media impacting life and thought;
great lines encountered in literature and culture;
potent phrases and concepts invoked and generated by thought leaders;
ideas of current relevance, including memes, catchphrases and images;
aspects of persuasive language and structure, how they work and how to use them.

However broadly the blog has reached for inspiration, each post has sprung from a central conceit—that language drives human expression and the human experience. Coming at us from all angles—literature, film, traditional and social media—words and images are what we use to understand ourselves and our lives, and what we use to put ourselves forward to others in society. The words we use give us a sense of self, a style of being, and a way of seeing the world.

The phrase ‘Use your words’ is commonly associated with parents counselling kids to speak clearly and choose their words carefully. Despite that childish association, the phrase is an instructive call to action—to be mindful of the force of words and to use words carefully with that force in mind.

This mindful use of words begets the new stated mission of Craft Polish: To help people craft language effectively, for social good.

Where there are beautiful, ambiguous, destructive and beneficial ways to ‘use words’, the blog will observe applications of language in the world, raising critical awareness of negative practices, and amplifying positive ones in culture and society.