LISTICLES

MSN (msn) is my default home page. While glancing through the page, I cannot resist the temptation of reading through the write-ups like: “How to Get Rid of Stress Naturally-10 Tips”, or “10 Daily Habits That are Making You Fat” or “10 Steps to Better Digestion” or “10 Diet Tips That Will Transform Your Life”.

Journalism and blogging has a new lexicon. The short-term of writing that uses a list as a thematic structure and which features a cardinal number in its title-now has a title of its own. Even as I print the word, my dictionary checker doesn't know how to spell “listicle” even if it has made the cut to the Oxford English Dictionary. The word is portmanteau derived from list and article. A typical listicle would prominently feature a cardinal number in its title such as, “10 Ways to Warm Up Your Bedroom in Winter” or “9 Things Your Husband Will Never Understand”, with subsequent sub-headings within the text itself reflecting this schema.

While the conventional reportage and essay writing require a careful crafting of the narrative flow, the building-block nature of the listicle lends itself to a more rapid production. It can also be a means of “recycling” information as often it is the context, not the content that is original. For example a listicle of “10 best Songs of the Year” can be constructed by adding to YouTube clips. The form has come under criticism as a “kind of cheap content-creation”. Nevertheless, the form remains a mainstay of the news-stand and the web. The covers of magazines such as India Today often sport one like “10 best Colleges in India”.

A short, sharp burst of news or information that cuts out the fluff is more likely to be read, understood and retained. People tend to scan information online before they click through to read more. Listicles help people to form an opinion based on the title, on whether to invest the

time to read the full article or move on to something more interesting. Listicles are a great format to distill complex information in to simple instructions or explanations. We do love reading and sharing those posts about ‘weird’ or ‘wonderful’ people and places. It is more interesting when it is someone else’s life. The Top 10 Restaurants, the Top 10 Cities in the World… this kind of listicle is hugely popular, helping to promote more business than ever before and also giving consumers an instant short-list to influence purchase decisions.

But there are several reasons why we should snort at listicles. One, the word sounds like a term relating to male anatomy that cannot ordinarily be part of a polite conversation. Two, the number involved keeps getting arbitrary if expanded- “30 Ways to Leave Your Lover”. Now the number can be anywhere between single digit to double digit, prime or not.

The prime number 5 is dynamic. The universe is made up of five elements. The five sacred Sikh symbols prescribed by Guru Gobind Singhji are the five ‘Ks”- Kesh (unshorn hair), Kangha (the comb), Kara (the steel bracelet), Kachha (the soldier shorts), and Kirpan (the sword). There are five deadly evils: Kama (lust), Krodh (anger),  Moh (attachment), Lobh (greed), and Ahankar (ego). Muslims pray five times a day. There are traditionally Five Wounds of Jesus Christ: the Scourging of the Pillar, the Crowning with Thorns, the Wounds in Hands, the Wounds in Feet and the Side Wound. The pentagram or five pointed star bears religious significance in various faiths.

“Six is a number perfect in itself not because God created all things in six days; rather, the converse is true. God created all things in six days because the number is perfect. In mathematics, a perfect number is when all the numbers divisors (excluding number itself) are added, the sum equals the number itself. 1+2+3=6. In addition when including the number itself and dividing by two, the result is the number itself. (1+2+3+6) /2=6. The six of course also reminds us of the Star of David.  

There are seven ancient wonders of the world, seven days in a week, seven circles of the Universe, seven deadly sins and seven basic musical notes. Seven isn’t just luck with the dice, but also rhymes with heaven.

Eight suggests infinity. Most umbrellas have eight sides. The ‘STOP’ sign has eight sides. There are eight planets in our solar system. It takes eight minutes for the sun’s light to reach the earth. “Behind the eight” or “Behind the eight-ball” is an English expression implying that one is in an embarrassing situation, out of luck or in trouble.

In Hinduism nine is the number of Brahma, the Creator. The ninth day of the Chinese New year is the birthday of the Jade Emperor, the ruler of all heaven and earth, worshipped by the Taoists. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote nine symphonies. The Nine

Muses in Greek mythology were daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory). Zeus and Mnemosyne had a love affair that lasted nine nights. 9 is also the number of lives of that arrogant animal.

Ten is the usual cardinal demarcation for a top-something list. A sensational lady figure is also referred to as perfect 10. 10, Downing Street is the residence of the British Prime Minister.

The number eleven is the first numerology master number and has long been considered to be the number of a spiritual teacher or one who shows the way of living by example. Some people believe that number eleven is an angel number.

Twelve would be the dozen apostles at the Last Supper.

Thirteen is the baker’s dozen and also the fist teen age year. For many, it is not an auspicious number. In several elevators in high-rises there is no floor of that number.

And fourteen has been basketball jersey number with many celebrated players abroad. It was also the shirt number of Ricki Ponting in his last ODI World Cup.

The number fifteen in the Bible pictures rest which comes after deliverance, represented by fourteen. The 15^th day of the last Hebrew month (Nisan) is the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, a day of rest for the children of Israel (and for Christians). In Tarot, 15 is the card of the Devil Rider. The devil symbolizes failure or reduction. Reversed, it implies a release from something binding.

That said, should I go on digging deeper into trendy forms of textual infotainment? Naah. Better join me for a walk in the Central Park or drop in at the Ice-cream parlour at the City Center and pick up, to lick and chew on, what else but a Popsicle!

But before doing that do read my listicle on: “100 Best Ways to Chew and Lick a Popsicle”……