calligraphy
Calligraphy is the ritual of wielding a primitive brush and ink to stage an ego performance on a blank sheet. Strict stroke order and unnecessarily meticulous movements drag any sparks of creativity into an inky quagmire. The audience—masters and fellow enthusiasts—hurl silent judgments and fleeting admiration at each stroke. By the time your wrist protests, all you have left is the taste of your own inadequacy and the scent of ink. Upon finishing, you line up new sheets like fresh cages for your next masterpiece.