Emojiglyphics

In a world where social media has become the main source of communication, emphasis has shifted from the spoken word to a visual one – specifically with the use of emojis. Defined as, “a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, etc., in electronic communication,” emojis have become symbols for communication and understanding.

Classically, some of the best authors including Fitzgerald, Austen, and Bronte have said that the greatest amount of understanding can be deciphered from a single look, a brush of the eyes, and a survey of facial expressions; all of which sees right through what words cannot possibly explain, what the voice tries to hide.

Is it possible that emojis do exactly this? In the multitude of emojis offered, do the countless facial expressions and images have the power to convey emotions better than words? Although this transition hasn’t yet been realized, it sure does seem that we have begun to do a lot of our communicating through these symbols.

Getting married? There’s an emoji for that.

 

Hanging out with best friends? There’s an emoji for that.

Visiting Italy? There’s an emoji for that.

Want to order pizza from Dominos? There’s an emoji for that.

Emojis have expanded to include multiple races through adding skin color options. So now, you can even personalize your emoji! Thus, through a simple picture, you can understand a person’s feelings, their race, and their cultural background. Who needs words when a tiny picture says it all – where you are, what you’re doing, how you’re feeling about it, and what the weather is like.

This begs the question: are words becoming obsolete?

One might argue that society is regressing back to the age of hieroglyphics – one of the first complex, developed writing systems in human history. Along with stone carvings and cave paintings, these symbols and pictures were used to produce literature and mythology, and to communicate history, knowledge, and current events.

That was hieroglyphics; today you can call it Emojiglyphics.

And what does this mean for our society?

What we have seen in recent years is a regression from active communication to passive communication. In its inception, texting was revolutionary in itself, with its claim to fame as being instant communication without the ‘hassle’ of having to call someone. With the addition of Instagram, Twitter, and of course, Facebook, the art of calling is virtually obsolete.

With the tide swaying to communication through pictures – Instagram, emojis, and especially Snapchat – writing is starting to dissipate, as well. The logic is, well what’s the point of texting when I can Snapchat a picture of my face…or my foot…or anything for that matter because we don’t need words to understand each other anymore.

So, it seems that Emojiglyphics is upon us. Instead of expecting a Darcy-esque letter confessing how much your partner “ardently admires and loves you,” the best you’ll get is a winky face or red heart emoji. Or, if they’re really into you, it’ll be a combination of both. That’s when you know it’s serious.

The sad thing is, instead of being used for fun, emojis are now being seriously expressed for feelings. One slightly suggestive, worrisome, or angry emoji – in context or not – can definitely change your mood. Communication, including everything from day to day plans to modern romance, has transformed drastically with the use of one, tiny smiley face.

In the future, it will be interesting to see where emojis find their place. Will they continue to be used for flair and amusement or will they overtake society’s overall method of communication?

If that comes true, I can’t be sure that emojis will be able to replicate genuine feelings, or the experiences that come with reading another person’s body language and hearing the intonation in their voice. These are workings of the soul that cannot possibly be fixed into over-generalized images.

And although some would agree, and say that we would be better off without these tiny, addictive emojis, the fact remains that they are not just a passing fad. Starting as a popular trend, they have become deeply ingrained in our society. If we have not reached this stage already, then it is only a matter of time before emojis become ubiquitous – overtaking everything from the media to consumer markets and eventually, literature and the written word as we know it.

A seemingly harmless facet of communication, emojis have the power to engulf the world in an endless array of symbols, as we stare up at clouds of heart-eyed smiles and become the inside-joke, the laughing stock, of the emoji crying tears of joy. Or, we can let them stay where they belong: in our snazzy Insta-bios. Ultimately, emojis are only as powerful as we make them. As for the future, that’s for us to decide.