Mood Marks February - May 2021
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February — May 2021 .-) .-( !-) !-( ?-) ?-( Mood Marks
Contributors &
Mood Marks
Editor’s Letter
Stina Bengtsson is a professor of Media and Communication The idea for Mood Marks came from the observation that
Studies at Södertörn University. Her research revolves around today, much of our communication takes the form of short
how the media — as technologies, artefacts, texts and messages — be it on social media, on email or as text
cultural norms — are negotiated and fit into daily life. messages. At the same time, we receive messages at a faster
pace than ever before. This means that we want to spend less
time writing each message. Emojis and smileys have been
John D. Hunt is a typeface designer and font developer at helpful tools to overcome this problem by allowing quick
Adobe. He is also Adobe’s representative to The Unicode communication of feelings in written text. However, a problem
Consortium and has participated in its Emoji Subcommittee, that I’ve often encountered is that there are situations when
advocating for representation in the Emoji universe. using an emoji is not desirable or even inappropriate.-(
Moreover, as the library of emojis has grown it has started to
mirror the complexity of language, with the meaning of some
Emelie Fågelstedt is a Digital Communications Strategist emojis differing across sub-cultures, age groups and countries.
specializing in social media. She is a consultant and a co- I suggest Mood Marks as a potential solution to these problems.
founder of Svenska Nomader, a meeting place for digital By merging emoticons with the traditional punctuation
nomads. marks (i.e. the period, the exclamation mark, and the question
mark), I create a shape that points the reader to the intention
Lexend Regular
and tone of voice of the writer while remaining more formal
Jack Werner is a freelance journalist who has written than emojis and smileys. Mood Marks can be used for text
extensively about critical thinking and urban legends on the messages and emails, but also in other digital texts like
Internet. He also writes columns for the Swedish morning subtitles for the hearing impaired and printed materials like
daily Dagens Nyheter. the paper you are holding in your hands.
In this paper, I have asked a number of people who work
with texts and writing to contribute with their thoughts on
Theres Bellander is an associate professor in Scandinavian how written communication has evolved in the digital era,
languages and a senior lecturer in Swedish language. Her and to experiment with Mood Marks to demonstrate how the
research applies discourse analysis to text, conversation and symbols can be incorporated in different types of texts.
multimodal digital material where text, images, sound and Stina Bengtsson writes about the interaction of technology
other modalities interact. and language. Emelie Fågelstedt reflects on how smileys
have helped her in her profession as a Digital Communications
Strategist, but also left her lost in translation. Paul D. Hunt
Dimen Abdulla is a playwright and an artist who, since contemplates on the challenges of making yourself
making her debut with the critically-acclaimed “På alla fyra” understood in digital contexts, while journalist Jack Werner
(On All Fours) in 2014, has written a number of plays for writes about the trade-off writers face between searching for
Swedish theaters and radio. She is currently a playwright for the perfect formulation and using short-cuts to reach the
Regionteater Väst. reader. Theres Bellander writes about the central role of
reading facial expressions in human communication.
In the last section of this paper, Dimen Abdulla experiments
with Mood Marks, adding another layer to two of her poems.
The texts are written either in English or in Swedish,
depending on the contributor's preference. The texts are
printed in different fonts to demonstrate how Mood Marks
. .-) .-( ! !-) !-( ? ?-) ?-(
look in practice.
Mood Marks are based on a semicircle which resembles a happy smiley when it's turned upwards,
and a sad smiley when it's turned downwards. The symbol works as a full stop when written out on
Isak Hultström Swahn
For more information on the project,
its own, but can also be combined with the exclamation mark and the question mark.-)
visit moodmarks.org Editor
2 3
Fonting Emotions —
Mood Marks
A Way of Transforming
Everyday Language
New ways of communicating require new means of kinds of communication patterns have developed in
communication. Digital media; mobile, portable, personal different groups, such as the use of the laugh-cry emoji,
devices and short, rapid, text messages have paved the according to Wikipedia the most used emoji in the world,
ways for a range of new communicative expressions; that has currently been discussed both as an emoji for
Words by Stina Bengtsson
emoticons. An emoticon, etymologically a mix of the boomers among the TikTok generation, and as a symbol
Libre Baskerville Regular
words emotion and icon, is a meta-communicative of cruelty, sometimes appropriated by right-wing forces.-(
pictorial representation of a facial expression that, in the With the changes in communication practices and
absence of body language and practices, serves to draw a shifting meanings of icons added to written language,
receiver’s attention to the mood or temper of a sender’s has everyday communication changed so profoundly we
non-verbal communication, changing and improving its also need new ways of expressing ourselves in formal
interpretation. Emoticons are made to express a person's written communication, as suggested by Isak Hultström
feelings or mood, and were originally created by means Swahn’s project Mode Marks?-) If so, simple ways of
of punctuation marks. The first published emoticon can expressing emotions also in official language, such as
be dated back as far as to 1881, but it has since the 1990s between workmates or in organisations, can be seen as a
gained a more common position in the communication natural continuation of the transformation of everyday
and lives of ordinary people. Using emoticons can be communication. As such it also contradicts the common
seen as a simple expansion of the spectra we have to notion that digital media expands the spreading of work
express our emotions. Empirical studies have shown that logic in the private sphere, through calendars that blur
the use of emoticons in online communication in fact the boundaries between work and rest, the private and
corresponds to explicit emotions felt by those who use the public, and turns leisure activities such as physical
them.-) Others have argued that emoticons are only exercise into strictly organized deeds, thoroughly tracked
loosely connected to our actually felt emotions, and that by digital devices. This expanded way of expressing
they can be seen as both expressions of actual emotions, emotions in formal communication shows how everyday
mapped directly onto facial expression (e.g., showing language is also finding its way across new areas in society.
happiness or sadness), but they can also have non- Lastly, emoticons have sometimes been criticized for
emotional meaning, (e.g., a wink that indicates that the having been developed into commodities that, according
one using the emoticon is joking). Today emoticons are a to the logic of the affective economy, are used by those
natural part of the facilities of many technical devices who crawl the Internet in search of aggregated data about
such as mobile phones, and are frequently used in media users, information that is sold in exchange of
different kinds of conversations. Some academic studies money.-( Through the widespread use of emoticons in
have also pointed to differences in different fractions of a everyday language, our feelings and emotions are not
population; that emoticons are used differently according excluded from this, but are today being bought and sold
. .-) .-( ! !-) !-( ? ?-) ?-(
to age, gender, etc. as commodities. Isak Hultström Swahn’s suggestion to
Originally, emoticons were mainly used in informal use a font to express emotions in written language may
communication, the private sphere. Practiced initially in be a way to sidestep this commodification of everyday
youth culture, it has gradually spread across larger parts communication. In formal, as well as in informal, language!-)
of the population. Today, discussion reveals that different
4 5
Mood Marks
Playing
with Παίζοντας με το φαρμακείο
Plato’s
Pharmakon του Πλάτωνα.-)
Socrates believed that writing was not an effective means of and Christopher Rowe supplies ‘elixir’ (2005). To my postmodern another set of drawbacks. Every technology is a double-edged not for good communication. As a metaphor, I prefer the concept
Words by John D. Hunt
communicating knowledge. And that to him, face-to-face ears all these translations sound exotic to varying degrees. In La sword depending on how it is wielded. And just as drugs can be of comprehension—the etymological idea being ‘to hold in common’.
Source Sans Regular
communication was the only way one person could transmit pharmacie de Platon (‘Plato’s Pharmacy’), the philosopher used to heal or to kill, so can the written word. Even though So how do we get there?
knowledge. If I could wish for a topic from you to write about, Jacques Derrida explores the ambiguous nature of the pharmakon: Plato puts a scathing review of writing in the mouth of Socrates, First, we must accept that despite our best intentions to imbue
it would be about difficulties in making oneself understood in text we should wary of taking what he has written at face value, symbols with meaning—a word, an emoji, a gesture, a facial
and how we solve these problems. The pharmakon, the drug: the medicine and/or poison ... Socrates without examining the irony that ‘Plato, a son figure, is writing ... expression, an icon, a punctuation mark—there is always some
compares the written [text] to a drug (pharmakon). This pharmakon, of Socrates’ condemnation of writing as patricide’.4 Everything is amount of play between what is broadcast by the sender and
This was the writing brief I was given requesting this piece. I believe this “medicine”, this philter, which acts as both remedy and poison, paradoxical. Everything contains its opposite meaning. what is interpreted by the receiver. Rather than despairing that
that every attempt was made to communicate what was wanted already introduces itself into the body of the discourse with all its Everything deconstructs itself by the very act of constructing it in this space of ambiguity exists, we should use it to our advantage,
from me; and yet I have so many questions. To which of Socrates’ ambivalence. This charm, this spellbinding virtue, this power of the first place. to enjoy the process it takes to connect with someone until
words are we referring to here? (I was under the impression he fascination, can be — alternately or simultaneously — beneficent But what does all this have to do with knowledge and comprehension is reached. If we take a playful attitude toward
never wrote anything down.) What is meant by ‘knowledge’? Is it or maleficent.1 understanding? At the end of Socrates’ supposed retelling of the communication, instead of being deadly serious, we can view our
the same as ‘understanding’ alluded to in the next sentence? myth of the judgement of writing, king Amun rebukes Thoth for conversations as a dance instead of a battle.When we do this we
Exactly what topic should I expound upon given this written request? More recently, Asha Persson, a medical researcher at National inventing writing, implying that those who rely on the pharmakon put ourselves in a position to be understood and to understand
Every person brings their own ideology (individual logic), Centre in HIV Social Research at the University of New South of text will have amassed vast amounts of information without another turn after turn.
idiolect (personal lexicon) and ideomyth (their own narrative) to Wales has reiterated: gleaning wisdom when he says: In this regard, empathy is the most important aspect of
the comprehension of a written text, just as they would with each comprehension: in order to reach a shared meaning, multiple
encounter with the world. If I would have to guess concerning the The ambivalent quality of pharmakon is more than purely a matter You provide your students with the appearance of intelligence, parties must care enough to engage in the dance of arriving at a
writing prompt’s reference to Socrates’ views based on my own of “wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong route of administration, not real intelligence. Because your students will be widely read, satisfying conclusion. If I understand Plato’s characterization of
experience, I would assume it refers to the problem of the wrong patient”.2 Drugs ... have the capacity to be beneficial and though without any contact with a teacher, they will seem to be men Socrates’ quibble with writing, it is because it substitutes the
pharmakon (φάρμακον) highlighted by Plato in Phaedrus. In that detrimental to the same person at the same time.3 of wide knowledge, when they will usually be ignorant. And this presence of original intent with a re-presentation. However, with
work, Plato tells a story of Socrates relating a myth to Phaedrus spurious appearance of intelligence will make them difficult company.5 today’s high-speed communication, this is hardly an obstacle.
of a conversation between the egyptian deity Thoth and the king But why am I going on about drugs, you may wonder. This is For those of us lucky enough to wield the technology of a smart-
of the gods, Amun, aka Thamus (whew!-)) it’s a bit like nesting because all language, whether spoken or written, is deeply So much for knowledge!-) As Plato points out (or was it Socrates? or phone, we have multiple modes of representative communication
matrioshki). As the mythological inventor of letters and writing, metaphorical. There are no ‘side effects’ to drugs, only effects. Amun?) folks generally don’t like a know-it-all. As for understanding, available to us if we are mindful and attentive to our conversations,
Thoth extols their virtues as a pharmakon for memory and wisdom. The same is true of writing, or any technology for that matter. I don’t particularly like the etymological connotations of no matter the media, we can be present even in our absence.
Unless pharmakon is part of your idiolect, you probably have This is why Plato, using the figure of Socrates as his mouthpiece, hierarchy it implies: ‘positioning oneself beneath another’ that is
. .-) .-( ! !-) !-( ? ?-) ?-(
only the vaguest idea of what that may mean. In a 1892 translation compares the effects of the written word to that of a pharmakon. more privileged. In conversations when I feel that someone is 1. Jacques Derrida & Barbara Johnson (trans), ‘Plato’s Pharmacy’, Dissemination, 1981, p 69
2. M. Silverman & P.R. Lee, Pills, Profits, and Politics (Berkeley: University of California), 1974, p 262
of Phaedra’s, Benjamin Jowett gives the translation ‘specific’ for For every mode of being, every media, every technology there is placing themself above me in order to hand down their superior 3. Asha Persson, ‘Incorporating Pharmakon: HIV, Medicine, and Body Shape Change’, Body & Society 10:4, 2004, p 49
4. Barbara Johnson, Dissemination, 1981, p xxvi
‘φάρμακον’. More recently Robin Waterfield provides ‘potion’ (2002) always a tradeoff: one set of benefits that correspond directly to knowledge, I quickly become defensive. This is a recipe for disaster, 5. Plato & Robin Waterfield (trans), Phaedrus (New York: Oxford University Press), 2002
6 7
Sad, Happy,
Mood Marks
Angry, Ironic
or Confused
Words by Emelie Fågelstedt
Courier Std Regular
I’ve been a writer for as long as I can with crying emojis asking what he had
remember.-) Using words to communicate has done wrong and why I was screaming at
always been key to me. But with the rise him?-( All because I used a ‘!’ without
of digital and now also the transformation ending it with a happy smiley.-(
to remote as the ‘new normal’ it becomes When I lived in Japan everything was
even more evident how easy it is to picture-based. It sometimes took me
misinterpret written text. Writing a forever to try and decipher the cultural
traditional article is one thing, but the meaning behind each unique emoji that was
real challenge arises in two-way used inside apps like LINE. One emotion
communication between people. could be portrayed in ten different ways,
How do you interpret if someone is sad, and I wasn’t always sure what my friends
happy, angry, ironic or confused when meant when sending me a message.
receiving an email or direct message? If you haven’t grown up using a certain
Today, the solution is often using an set om emojis, you might have a hard
emoticon or emoji. time interpreting them. This goes for
I’ve honestly come to a point in my life different cultures, but also for
when I use emoticons in almost every different generations.
single email. I could easily end every I’ve been a digital nomad and remote
paragraph with a smiley.-) But it doesn’t worker since 2014. Communicating in text
always work in a professional context.-( is what I do every day, to people I work
I often end up rereading my messages and with all around the globe!-) Despite the
forcing myself to change most smileys to rise of video calls and voice chat, text
normal punctuation marks instead. is still how I communicate with people
..-).-(!!-)!-(??-)?-(
I remember working with a graphic most of the time. Of course, I see a need
designer from Malaysia. I sent him a note for a universal way to convey emotions,
on Skype after receiving some great work that works across any context, generation
saying ‘Well done!’. He responded to me and culture.
8 9
Mood Marks
Gutenbergsparantesen,
Christer Pettersson
och graven
“They are both revolutions, but the second revolution is Statsvetaren Peter Santesson har påpekat att Christer
reversing the first.” Pettersson pratade en ”korsning mellan byråkratiskt språk
från rättsväsendets salonger och skurklivets interna förbrytar-
Skriven av Jack Werner
Så säger Lars Ole Sauerberg, professor emeritus i litteratur terminologi”, där man ”förvärvar fyrahundra gram affe” och
Granville Regular
på Syddansk Universitet, när han beskriver start- och ”erfar att motparten är en golbög”. Sålunda lånar vår
slutpunkten för den så kallade Gutenbergsparentesen: vardagliga kommunikation idag av internationella såväl
Begreppet han utvecklat för den 500-åriga epoken mellan som snabbt uppblossande hyperlokala kulturella referenser,
uppfinnandet av tryckpressen och internet. En revolution och leder till att en SMS-konversation kan vara omöjlig att
och dess upphävande.-) tyda för en utomstående.
Tryckpressen med sin massproduktion av böcker fick oss Där det saknas en tydlig gemensam parlör uppstår onödiga
att betrakta information som något samlat och auktoritärt, konflikter. Ett internskämt bland oinvigda, en slarvigt
något vi var tvungna att gå till, medan internet löst upp formulerad sarkasm eller en avsedd undertext som inte
informationens ramar och gjort den mer muntlig igen. uppfattats, alla kan de leda till i bästa fall friktion, i värsta
Stå utanför en nedlagd bokhandel och räkna antalet förbi- fall skandaler. Vår gemensamma strävan till en ny
passerande som går med näsan i sin telefon om du vill ha normalitet kommer ta tid och energi, men förhoppningsvis
resonemanget illustrerat.-( resultera i en tillvaro där alla nyanser, alla rumsliga och
Nej förresten, fy för sådan sentimentalitet!-) Jag har ju en interpersonella kvaliteter i vår dialog om inte respekteras
journalists syn på texter: ju fler som får tillgång till dem, så åtminstone erkänns.
desto bättre, oavsett tekniskt format. Det enda som återstår Är smileys, mer inbakade i språket, ett steg på vägen?
är att släppa sargen vad gäller tilltalet. Som författare vill Tjänar min läsare på att slippa lägga energi på att förstå
jag lämna mitt stilistiska avtryck, men helst undvika vulgära mina försök till undertoner, och tjänar jag som skribent på
omotiverade ”jag”. En smiley förutsätter en avsändare att inte behöva leta efter den textuella motsvarigheten till
som träder fram, det vill säga är motsatsen till mig, och värmen i en röst hos en person som ler?-)
därför har jag aldrig lyckats bemästra SMS-tonaliteten. Jag tror att svaret ligger i textens egen vardagliga
Samtiden springer mig förbi.-( framtid, efter Gutenbergs slutparentes, som ett
För det är i telefonen det händer. Gutenbergsparentesen kommunikationsverktyg i sina brukares händer, eller kanske
tog slut eftersom den skrivna texten, med dagens till och med dess munnar. Där laddas innehållet inte av
kommunikationsteknologi, inte är sällsynt, svårtillgänglig bokstäverna utan dess omgivning. Då kan ingen stoppa
. .-) .-( ! !-) !-( ? ?-) ?-(
och exkluderande, och därför inte heller förväntas vara smileyn, oavsett de vill det eller inte. Den andra
särskilt genomarbetad när den används. Den är vardaglig, revolutionens verkliga offer är textens strikta
snabbrörlig och flexibel: Den anpassar sig efter situation standardisering. Har den verkligen någon som gråter vid
och brukare istället för tvärtom. dess grav?
10 11
Mood Marks
Att avbilda alla ansikten
Vetenskapen menar att förmågan till kommunikation bokpratet sker kanske med fysiska träffar hemma hos
utgör en av de viktigaste förutsättningarna för någon eller på ett café?-) Kanske förbereder sig
människans fortlevnad och utveckling.-) Det är mycket deltagarna genom att förutom att läsa själva boken
tack vare kommunikationen som individer, kulturer och också ta del av recensioner eller författarporträtt i
samhällen har lyckats överleva och avancera på jorden.-) tidningar eller radio?-)
Vi människor kan utbyta information ansikte mot Daglig användning av datorer, smarta telefoner och
ansikte genom olika former av kroppsaktiviteter. Vi kan läsplattor har gjort att många av de aktiviteter som
exempelvis ge varandra blickar, gestikulera, sucka och tidigare i huvudsak skedde muntligt har övergått till
snyfta. De flesta av oss kan också med våra hörsel- och att i stor utsträckning äga rum skriftligt. Inte minst
talorgan uppfatta och uttrycka ett eller flera mänskliga gäller detta lek och umgänge. Många människor
språk. Vidare kan vi kommunicera indirekt med umgås dagligen med andra genom skriftlig
varandra med hjälp av till exempel pennor och papper, kommunikation i olika digitala spelsajter och appar
datorer, telefoner och läsplattor. Tack vare dessa för snabbmeddelanden. Eftersom det tar längre tid
kommunikationsverktyg kan vi ha kontakt med att skriva än att tala och eftersom många digitala
människor som befinner sig på andra platser eller i kommunikationsverktyg har begränsat textutrymme
Skriven av Theres Bellander
andra tider. Med kommunikationsverktyg kan vi har ett behov av att uttrycka sig kortfattat uppkommit.
Montserrat Regular
kommunicera med bilder, symboler och skrift. Utifrån detta behov har användarna av de digitala
I alla tider har människors kommunikationssätt och kommunikationsverktygen behövt utveckla specifika
kommunikationsverktyg varit starkt förknippade med de snabba och koncisa skriftliga kommunikativa stilar.
liv som de levt och de aktiviteter som de har ägnar sig åt. Dessa stilar kännetecknas av att innehålla förkortningar
Man kan säga att människors behov i stor utsträckning för uttryck och företeelser som är vanliga i spel- och
har styrt kommunikationsutvecklingen.-) De har umgängespraktiker samt känsloyttrande piktogram
exempelvis konstruerat skriftspråk för att kunna för att förmedla känslor och stämningar. Från början
bedriva handel och upprätthålla statsskick och skapat har kombinationer av tangentbordens symboler
tryckpressar för att kunna sprida sina religioner och använts för att avbilda ansikten med känslouttryck,
kunskaper. Samtidigt som människors aktiviteter och så kallade smileys :-). Dessa har sedan utvecklades till
behov har styrt kommunikationsutvecklingen har uttryckssymboler, så kallade emojis. Idag är emojis
utvecklingen i sin tur givit upphov till nya aktiviteter tillgängliga i de flesta digitala kommunikationsprogram.
och behov. Skrift som kan användas för handel kan Trots att det är fritt fram för vem som helst att använda
exempelvis också användas för begravningsriter och snabbmeddelanden på telefoner och i datorer till vilka
tryckpressar som kan trycka religiösa skrifter kan syften och typer av texter som helst har de digitala
också trycka nyheter o.s.v. kommunikationsverktygen under lång tid förknippats
Det liv som människor i Sverige lever idag och de med spel och umgänge. Men precis som böcker kan
aktiviteter som vi dagligen ägnar oss åt kräver att vi även sms ha olika användningsområden och innehåll.
kan läsa och skriva på både svenska och engelska och Att sms måste hållas korta betyder inte att den
att vi kan hantera såväl analoga kommunikationsverktyg språkliga stil som utvecklats inom spelvärlden måste
(t.ex. papper och penna) som digitala (t.ex. smarta användas. Troligtvis lämpar sig spelstilen rätt illa för
telefoner). Människor är ständigt engagerade i olika exempelvis formell kommunikation inom arbetslivet!-(
aktiviteter. De ”gör” saker som att gå på fest, träffas i Idag har många har upptäckt att det även utanför
bokklubbar och fatta regeringsbeslut. En mycket stor spel- och umgängespraktikerna finns situationer då
del av människors dagliga aktiviteter utförs genom kortfattade skriftliga meddelanden via sms är
kommunikation och oftast används flera användbara. Utifrån perspektivet att människors
. .-) .-( ! !-) !-( ? ?-) ?-(
kommunikationssätt och flera kommunikationsverktyg. behov styr kommunikationsutvecklingen är det högst
En person som är med i en bokklubb varvar kanske sannolikt att vi snart kommer vi att se en formell
mellan att läsa en tryckt bok och att lyssna på boken språklig sms-stil och att denna snabbt kommer att
som en ljudbok. Träffarna med de andra medlemmarna anammas av alla som har behov av att skicka formella
i bokklubben bestäms kanske i e-post eller sms och meddelanden via sms!-)
12 13
Mood Marks
Alice
Jag faller, faller under lång tid
faller ut ur berättelsen Svart som tryffel
Ut ur strukturer
Ut ur narrativet
Faller i flera mil
I ett oändligt långt svart hål Noll och ingenting
Ner igenom jorden Noll och ingenting
Jag ska samla tomrummet
Jag ska samla det som damm
Grusa det mellan varje andetag
Skriven av Dimen Abdulla
Jag är Alice.-) Jag berättas. tills det slipats till ett hårt mörker i sten
Vem berättar mig?
Times Ten Regular
Lewis Caroll? Ditt hjärta pulserar i min halsgrop!-)
Jag är Alice
Jag vandrar i underlandet.
Jag vandrar i underlandet. I min dröm vilar en vit nyligen plockad blomknopp på vitt marmorgolv!-)
Jag vandrar i schizofrenin. På natten faller den som snöflingor!-)
Jag vandrar i psykosen. På natten träder träden ur sig själva
Letar efter svar i det undermedvetna.
På natten sträcker sig gräset som en rak linje mot himlen
Läser chiffer på klockslagen
11:11!-) 12:12!-) 13:13!-) 14:14?-(
Jag kommer klättra det slingrande hårbotten på din panna in i dina yttersta platser
Tyder tecken Skymda dunkla ligger dom där.-)
I tarotkorten Och väntar på mig
I kaffekoppen
I mina drömmar
I dissociationen
Följer?-(
Linjerna i min handflata
I det mörkaste alfabetet
. .-) .-( ! !-) !-( ? ?-) ?-(
14 15
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