The Difference Between Doodling and Drawing
Introduction
Used colloquially, the two terms may seem synonymous, and they’re often used interchangeably. The same is true for manslaughter and murder - comparing lofty artistic pursuits with vile crimes may seem unreasonable. Looking closer, we can see that the four words share some similarities, namely the intention behind them. It’s the intention behind the act which truly defines it. This blog post will draw upon unorthodox comparisons and parallels to paint a fuller picture of linguistic use and define arbitrary semantic guidelines.
This post will discuss both doodling and drawing in greater depth, and first and foremost, they will be analysed and compared to the criminal charges of manslaughter and murder. Beginning by defining the two, and serving as an introduction to doodling and drawing.
Both manslaughter and murder entail the taking of a human life - the true distinction between the two is the intention and the way that life is taken. In comparison, doodling and drawing are both visual arts that use an instrument to mark a two-dimensional surface, traditionally paper or similar. The tools used have typically been crayons, pencils and ink pens, but are not limited to these.
Manslaughter is a killing which is usually defined into two categories: voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter implies the intention to kill a person or seriously harm, but wasn’t a planned action. Usually fueled by intoxication, rage or other strong inhibition, the intent is to harm, but as a ‘spur of the moment’ kind of act. Involuntary means the person had no real intention to kill or harm another, but accidentally did so. This can be through negligence or recklessness.
Murder is a killing which is always voluntary, either through will or omission. It is premeditated and often considered for a longer period of time before the crime finally takes place. A person murdering another does so with the intent of causing serious harm or taking their life. It can be fueled by strong emotions or be completely absent from any.
In comparison of the two, we will consider doodling manslaughter and drawing murder. The real distinction between the two is the intention and premeditation of the action. If a person sets out to create a specific thing, they are drawing. If they, on the other hand, act on intuition and let their subconscious guide them, they are doodling. Some of you might think this definition of doodling sounds like automatic drawing. Well, automatic drawing is like doodling,but in terms of criminology, this would be like pleading insanity. Let’s begin by taking a closer look at doodling and its more spontaneous nature.
Doodling - Spontaneous crime of Passion.
Whether you’re bored in class or you’re just fidgeting around with a pen, doodling comes as a result of your focus being split between the drawing you’re doing and something else. The focus is ever so slightly tilted towards the part which is not drawing. I’ve found in my personal life that it helps me focus, and while it might seem absent-minded, it’s somewhere in between. In a limbo between serene and unwavering concentration and blissful mindlessness. It removes pressure, and it limits distractions.
Doodles are typically simple drawings that can have tangible representational meaning or be completely abstract shapes. Typically associated with children and toddlers, the word itself first appeared in the 17th century to mean a fool or a simpleton. Perhaps derived from the German Dudeltopf or Dudeldop. The term eventually emerged as a term for a politician who was doing nothing in office, which has led to the more generalised verb “to doodle” - meaning to do nothing. This implies the lack of planning and thought put into doodling.
Just like manslaughter, doodling isn’t premeditated and planned. It’s spontaneous, and it’s something which unfolds on its own in the moment. There’s not much, if any, thought that goes into doodling. You just put the pen to the paper and watch it flow; part of that journey is discovering what you find hidden in plain sight on that paper.
Unlike manslaughter, doodling is something positive and can bring an array of positive things to its practitioners. Manslaughter only brings bad things, despite the name suggesting a man’s humorous vocalisation.
Doodling has been shown to have a positive effect on memory, and perhaps that’s why it’s an instinct for many to doodle while in meetings, class or even while in conversation. It can also be used to relieve stress and is similar to other motor activities like fidgeting and pacing, which are used to alleviate mental stress. Doodling plays an important role in art therapy, allowing the user to slow down, focus and de-stress.
Doodling is an easy, low-risk and low-effort kind of artistic expression. There have been many notable doodlers throughout history, and doodling has been a part of humanity since before written history. It requires little mental effort and no preplanning.
Drawing - Premeditated and Planned.
Drawing, just like doodling is a visual art’s technique to produce an illustration. Unlike doodling however drawing is premeditated and planned. Like doodling, drawing has played an important role throughout human history and continues to do so. It’s been used to illustrate ideas and concepts and has been a part of architecture, engineering and medicine for as long as they’ve existed. The availability of drawing instruments makes drawing one of the most commonplace artistic activities.
The end result of both drawing and doodling are essentially the same but it is the process and journey there that sets them apart. Just like how murder and manslaughter ends up with a person’s death - drawing and doodling both share the same destination. A finalised drawing. What sets the two apart is the intention and unfolding of that artistic process.
When somebody puts the pen to the paper with the intention to create an illustration they’re drawing, and unlike murder it can be done without malice. Drawing is a staple of human expression and has and continues to fill an important role in many different aspects of human ingenuity. It takes mental effort and practice to draw. It takes careful planning and meticulous focus. Whereas doodling is absent-minded drawing requires focus and intent. Just like being charged with murder.
Final Words
Manslaughter and murder are horrible crimes, but doodling and drawing, while potentially horrible and mentally damaging, aren’t physically harmful. They bring more good than bad and both of them have a place in artistic life.
Doodling can help with focus and de-stressing, and it provides not only an alternative to boredom but also presents a way to deal with creative blocks and bring new ideas. Children doodle and a way to reconnect to that childlike magic in life is to just engage in some good ol fashioned silliness. Doodling isn’t serious, it’s low-stakes and it’s good to just get out the clutter of your mind onto a piece of paper. It doesn’t take a lot of mental effort and it can be done without any prerequisites and ideas, you just let the doodle unfold infront of you. Like manslaughter it’s a crime of passion, and it’s a spontaneous “spur of the moment” kind of approach to visual arts.
The opposite side of the same coin is of course drawing. Which is meticulous and takes planning, and a single piece can go several iterations of sketches before finally manifesting as the final work. Drawing has been incredibly important to humanity, and continues to be. It has helped us build the wonders of the world, it has granted us extensive knowledge about biology like plants and human atonomy. When a child dreams its incoherent naivety onto the paper we call it doodling, but when we as adults dream the same but drawing on experience, we call it drawing, and for many that’s the first step of realising the impossible.
With careful planning and attention to detail drawing is richer to a magnitude doodling can never be. But they fill different roles and both are important, that’s important to remember. Drawing can be very exhausting and demanding, and doodling presents a more relaxing way of creating visual arts. If you ever need to remember the difference between doodling and drawing you can always remember them as manslaughter and murder. They’re of course not as grim and if you ever feel like murdering someone, take a pen instead of a knife and put it against paper instead of skin.
