All time Quote by John Barth
“Printed prose is historically a most peculiar, almost an aberrant way of telling stories, and by far the most inherently anesthetic: It is the only medium of art I can think of which appeals directly to none of our five senses. The oral and folk tradition in narrative made use of verse or live-voice dynamics, embellished by gesture and expression--a kind of rudimentary theater--as do the best raconteurs of all times. Commonly there was musical accompaniment as well: a kind of one-man theater-of-mixed-means.”
About This Quote
He argues that printed prose is a detached, sensory‑deprived art form compared to oral storytelling, which engages multiple senses.
In simple terms: Printed words lack the sensory richness of spoken stories.
Key Takeaway
Value oral traditions for their immersive qualities.
Themes
literature
media
storytelling
Mood
analytical
nostalgic
Type
critical
observational
When to use this quote
- education
- publishing
- performance art
- podcasting
Key Concepts
sensory perception
media theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers make prose more sensory?
- What role does technology play in preserving oral traditions?
A Different Perspective
Printed text can still evoke vivid imagery through skilled writing.
![“I don't know whether we think in moving images or whether we think in still images. I have a suspicion that on our hard drive, our series within our brains, [exist] still photographs of very important moments in our lives. ... That we think in terms of still images and that what the photography is…” quote by Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/598/jon-snow-40883_all-time_i-don-t-know-whether-we-think-in-moving_15093.jpg)
