Writing is a weird art form. In the case of other art forms, the receiver doesn’t need to have deep knowledge to appreciate the product. For example, you don’t need to understand color theory to know a painting is great. You don’t need to know the nuances of music, like ragas or sur, to find a singer’s voice beautiful. You don’t have to know how hard it is to pull off a magic trick to start doing a backflip with excitement. You don’t need to be an expert in car engineering to feel the engine’s growl in your chest. Deep knowledge of architecture is not necessary to find a Gothic church spectacular. But when it comes to words (I am specifically talking about long-form nonfiction), you need to have cared deeply about the topic to appreciate the writing even in a superficial way.

Why?

Let’s first explore why other art forms are easier to appreciate.

Writing doesn’t have sensory stimulation

Paintings and music stimulate our senses. Most art forms stimulate one or more of our five senses. Paintings stimulate our eyes. Music stimulates our ears. Movies stimulate both eyes and ears. Even if you don’t get the plot, you can still be in awe of the cinematography of a movie. The movement of attention in art forms that are not writing is like this: sensory stimulation → cognitive stimulation → sensory stimulation. It is a circle. One reinforces the other.

Writing doesn’t have this advantage. It doesn’t directly stimulate our senses. It is pure cognition.

Writing lacks distinct motor skills.

Other skills, like painting, designing a car or a building, performing surgery, or making physical things, require distinct motor prowess. Not many people have those skills. That’s why those skills are easier to appreciate. In countries with good literacy rates, almost everybody can read and write. Writing is not a distinct motor skill. It is a fundamental skill.

Pure cognition means it is more effortful to consume.

Writing is also more prone to mediocrity than other art forms because of its ubiquitous accessibility. Not everyone can paint or dance, but almost everyone knows how to use words to communicate.

The thing with ubiquitous skills is that, since they are general, they are harder to pay attention to. The things that lie in plain sight are always hidden. You think it’s so obvious that there’s no need to look at it. No, you don’t even think that. The thing that is all around becomes ...

William tirkey

William tirkey

William tirkey

William tirkey

Words are not dead

Untitled Draft

Words are not dead

Untitled Draft