In literature, there is the author. This is the person who controls the characters in a story and keeps the plot moving in an interesting and satisfying direction. The life of the author is a rather secluded one. It’s one that involves a person sitting in front of a computer or typewriter with only the whisper of a vision in his or her head. However, whatever jumps out of the mind can eventually be art.
In film, there is the auteur. Derived from the French word for author, auteur theory suggests that the director is the primary visionary and is responsible for all aspects of the film. It’s the voice and style of the director that will ultimately shine. Francois Truffaut popularized the phrase in the 1950s and directors like Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, and Paul Thomas Anderson continue to perpetuate this tradition today.
In shoes, there is Manolo Blahnik. When you put on a pair of Manolos, it is an experience because Blahnik is responsible for every one of the thousands of designs that come out under his brand. His jobs and studies have taken him all over the world and have helped him develop the style and taste that he puts into each shoe. He works alone without any assistants or apprentices and creates the sketch and wooden mold of all of his designs. That’s why a Manolo is unlike anything else.
