From: lhendr at unm.edu <lhendr>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 13:57:45 -0700 (MST)

In addition to the criteria that Kathleen gave, the Award Handbook supplies a definition of "distinguished" as:

- marked by eminence and distinction: noted for significant achievement
- marked by excellence in quality
- marked by conspicuous excellence or eminence
- individually distinct

Somehow this all sound a bit Gertrude Steinian, as in "distinguished is distinguised is distinguised," and I, too, like the "venturesome creativity" notion, which seems at least suggested by "individually distinct."

But, agreeing with Brenda Bowen, sometimes venturesome creativity comes in doing something extremely well and with a new twist that does not at first glance look especially venturesome or creative, and while something that screams "look at me! You never saw anything like this before!" will turn out to be not distinguished at all, but a flash in the pan. And of course, determing which is which is not at all easy. Look back at the New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books lists from 10 years ago or 15 or 20, and see how many of them you know, how many have stood the test of time.

Linnea Hendrickson lhendr at unm.edu
Received on Mon 02 Feb 1998 02:57:45 PM CST