LESS is MORE - what does it mean? - Learn English with Misterduncan - With Captions

4,447 views ・ 2024-08-23

English Addict with Mr Duncan


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Here is an interesting English phrase
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that we use when we want to express
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the acceptable use of some  type of creative action,
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especially when creating and displaying something
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intended to make an impact or be entertaining.
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The phrase is less is more.
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We might use this phrase as a response to something we have seen or heard.
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Something that is visually  overwhelming or overproduced 
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in some way, might lead to  a state that less is more.
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In other words, within the creation  there is too much going on,
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which leads to our senses being overly coded.
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The message or point becomes lost because 
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there is too much going on for  the meaning to come through.
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01:01
It is possible to put too much into  something you can easily overdo,  
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something. It is too much to handle in a movie.
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01:13
There might be too many special effects
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leading to confusion and unwanted distractions
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which take the viewer out of the story or moment being conveyed.
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There is too much going on.
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A piece of music might have too many instruments 
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or key changes for it to be  pleasurable to listen to.
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It has been overproduced.
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There is too much going on in the song.
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So the phrase less is more is used to express the fact that sometimes while creating something.
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It is better to control the amount of things 
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used or added so as to allow  the meaning to come through.
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Be it a painting, a song, a movie,  or any type of presentation.
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It is easy to go too far and over-egg the omelette.
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You have added too much of something.
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Less of something can have a more positive effect than going over the top with too much.
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The phrase itself has been used in religious text, and is often expressed as a reminder to hold back
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when creating something.
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Don't overdo it. Observe restraint.
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Don't go over the top.
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Of course, too much of anything can be bad,
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so it is always worth remembering that when creating something,
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whether it is a piece of music, a painting,
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a movie, or an office presentation,
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sometimes... less is more.
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