Have you heard of the latest trend in entertainment?  Or, maybe it was a trend in stress relief?  Actually, I’ve heard it referred to as a creative outlet, maybe that is what it is?

This trend would be that of adult coloring books.  Wait, hold on, am I referring to a coloring book filled with sultry women, roguish men, and lascivious acts of passion and erotica?  Wouldn’t that kind of coloring book be a bit lacking in palette?  How many fleshy shades could one possibly put to use?

Admittedly, when I first heard of these the aforementioned coloring books, I thought, “Um, ADULT coloring books?”  My first dubious, and slightly curious, reaction was augmented upon revelation of the true content of these coloring books for grown ups.

There are many variations on the adult coloring book theme.  They range from intricate flower designs to complicated geometric patterns to cityscapes to nature scenes.  There are collections of superheroes to color in, and there are fantasy themes to shade whatever color you see fit.  There are collections of outlined exotic cars, and there are vacant tracings of houses to be filled with color.  There are black-lined hollows of Disney characters and there are blank enclosures depicting famous paintings. Upon deeper scrutiny, there are actually some “adult” coloring books. The ones I have stumbled across depict scenes of working in cubicles, paying bills, shopping at grocery stores, and of attending booze soaked parties.  While those warranted a chuckle, they were far from the sensual nature I expected to find upon hearing of these coloring books.

So……

What exactly is the point of these adult coloring books? And why are they so popular?

Apparently, for many people these books are very relaxing.  This leads one to assume a therapeutic and stress relief garnered from the act of coloring.  As a form of entertainment I suppose it’s better than watching TV, but I don’t see it as an improvement over reading, exercise or even knitting.

I may be looking at this the wrong way, but coloring seems a bit futile to me.  I view it as filling in another persons creation.  I agree that when shaded in, the former blankness has a renewed vividness and vigor.  However, the creator of the template wields the actual ingenuity.  I often think that, perhaps, those engaged in coloring might not benefit more from painting on canvas, or drawing, as those individuals would have a sense of accomplishment from creating, as opposed to simply filling in the blanks.

Maybe that’s not the point.  Perhaps the intent is to not have to engage the mind.  The purpose may be simply shutting down, or idling, the brains engine and engaging in repetitive, soporific, pursuits.  Maybe the appeal is that of the mindlessness zen of which I have yet to achieve.

In this process of evaluating the purpose of adult coloring books, a new sub-genre has been revealed to me.  This is the swear word coloring book.

This is far less ambiguous than the “adult” coloring book.  It is as straight forward as it sounds.  These books are comprised of pages upon pages of words that can be filled in with whatever hue you wish.  And this form of coloring is where I must draw a line.

While I may not understand the compulsion to color dolphins, anemone, and coral in a seascape,  I certainly respect a persons right to do so.  I may not understand why an individual will fill in a Van Gogh with their own colors instead of taking a painting class or buying an instructional book and giving it a shot, but, it’s not hurting me, so go for it.  I can’t fathom why someone would shade in exotic cars instead of going to a car show to see one, but I certainly won’t chastise them.  The swear word coloring book element strikes me a bit differently.

I find it a little odd that someone could purchase a swear word coloring book, particularly coupled with a disclaimer that the day has been really awful and coloring in the words shit, bitch, and m@ther fuck*r will make the day improve. I don’t see how shading in these violent and derogatory utterances can be calming, soothing, or remotely therapeutic.  I also see a very, very fine line differentiating shading in words and screaming out epithets into the wall of a closet.

Does coloring in a word in a book,

make it that much different from doing this?

And which should you be concerned about? Both? Probably so.  Is there a correlation here? You decide.

Humbly yours,

J