What does `who is but the form following the function of what` mean?












2














Can someone please break down that sentence of Alan Moore for me?
I can understand that it somehow means that who has the same function as what or something like that but I don't understand how that structure means that, I would also appreciate other examples of such structure.
I also understand something like I'm but a very brilliant guy to mean that I am nothing but a brilliant guy.



This is from the movie V for vendetta where Evey asks V(it's a name of a man who always wears a mask) about who he is when they first meet.



Evey: Who are you?
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.










share|improve this question
























  • There isn't a sentence there. Could you actually quote the sentence, please?
    – Andrew Leach
    May 26 '18 at 19:19










  • some context would also be very helpful.
    – Hellion
    May 26 '18 at 19:32
















2














Can someone please break down that sentence of Alan Moore for me?
I can understand that it somehow means that who has the same function as what or something like that but I don't understand how that structure means that, I would also appreciate other examples of such structure.
I also understand something like I'm but a very brilliant guy to mean that I am nothing but a brilliant guy.



This is from the movie V for vendetta where Evey asks V(it's a name of a man who always wears a mask) about who he is when they first meet.



Evey: Who are you?
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.










share|improve this question
























  • There isn't a sentence there. Could you actually quote the sentence, please?
    – Andrew Leach
    May 26 '18 at 19:19










  • some context would also be very helpful.
    – Hellion
    May 26 '18 at 19:32














2












2








2


1





Can someone please break down that sentence of Alan Moore for me?
I can understand that it somehow means that who has the same function as what or something like that but I don't understand how that structure means that, I would also appreciate other examples of such structure.
I also understand something like I'm but a very brilliant guy to mean that I am nothing but a brilliant guy.



This is from the movie V for vendetta where Evey asks V(it's a name of a man who always wears a mask) about who he is when they first meet.



Evey: Who are you?
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.










share|improve this question















Can someone please break down that sentence of Alan Moore for me?
I can understand that it somehow means that who has the same function as what or something like that but I don't understand how that structure means that, I would also appreciate other examples of such structure.
I also understand something like I'm but a very brilliant guy to mean that I am nothing but a brilliant guy.



This is from the movie V for vendetta where Evey asks V(it's a name of a man who always wears a mask) about who he is when they first meet.



Evey: Who are you?
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.







meaning grammar sentence-structure complex-sentences






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edited May 26 '18 at 19:58

























asked May 26 '18 at 18:24









tgwtdt

1113




1113












  • There isn't a sentence there. Could you actually quote the sentence, please?
    – Andrew Leach
    May 26 '18 at 19:19










  • some context would also be very helpful.
    – Hellion
    May 26 '18 at 19:32


















  • There isn't a sentence there. Could you actually quote the sentence, please?
    – Andrew Leach
    May 26 '18 at 19:19










  • some context would also be very helpful.
    – Hellion
    May 26 '18 at 19:32
















There isn't a sentence there. Could you actually quote the sentence, please?
– Andrew Leach
May 26 '18 at 19:19




There isn't a sentence there. Could you actually quote the sentence, please?
– Andrew Leach
May 26 '18 at 19:19












some context would also be very helpful.
– Hellion
May 26 '18 at 19:32




some context would also be very helpful.
– Hellion
May 26 '18 at 19:32










2 Answers
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It is just a cryptic/clever/verbose way of saying that "who are you" just means "what are you" ("who" is just another word for / has the same function as "what"). To which he responds that he is just a man in mask.



Form follows function is a term from 20th century modernist architecture, and has influenced many aspects of modern design.






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    -1














    It means Who a person doesnot matter. What matters is what he/she does. What function that person performs. "What we do counts and who we are follows from that






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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
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      It is just a cryptic/clever/verbose way of saying that "who are you" just means "what are you" ("who" is just another word for / has the same function as "what"). To which he responds that he is just a man in mask.



      Form follows function is a term from 20th century modernist architecture, and has influenced many aspects of modern design.






      share|improve this answer


























        2














        It is just a cryptic/clever/verbose way of saying that "who are you" just means "what are you" ("who" is just another word for / has the same function as "what"). To which he responds that he is just a man in mask.



        Form follows function is a term from 20th century modernist architecture, and has influenced many aspects of modern design.






        share|improve this answer
























          2












          2








          2






          It is just a cryptic/clever/verbose way of saying that "who are you" just means "what are you" ("who" is just another word for / has the same function as "what"). To which he responds that he is just a man in mask.



          Form follows function is a term from 20th century modernist architecture, and has influenced many aspects of modern design.






          share|improve this answer












          It is just a cryptic/clever/verbose way of saying that "who are you" just means "what are you" ("who" is just another word for / has the same function as "what"). To which he responds that he is just a man in mask.



          Form follows function is a term from 20th century modernist architecture, and has influenced many aspects of modern design.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered May 26 '18 at 20:15







          user184130
































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              It means Who a person doesnot matter. What matters is what he/she does. What function that person performs. "What we do counts and who we are follows from that






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              user330279 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                -1














                It means Who a person doesnot matter. What matters is what he/she does. What function that person performs. "What we do counts and who we are follows from that






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                user330279 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  -1






                  It means Who a person doesnot matter. What matters is what he/she does. What function that person performs. "What we do counts and who we are follows from that






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                  user330279 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  It means Who a person doesnot matter. What matters is what he/she does. What function that person performs. "What we do counts and who we are follows from that







                  share|improve this answer








                  New contributor




                  user330279 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer






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                  answered 2 days ago









                  user330279

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                  user330279 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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