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As someone with aphantasia, who typically reads non-fiction and watches fiction, Ted Chiang’s work really stands out for me. Most visual descriptions are in ser
by z5h 2y ago
As someone with aphantasia, who typically reads non-fiction and watches fiction, Ted Chiang’s work really stands out for me. Most visual descriptions are in service to technical details, and therefore they are enjoyable conceptually.
- shawnc 2y agoThank you! I too have aphantasia and I really appreciate this comment :)
- mkoubaa 2y agoI'm another aphant who really appreciates Chiang's writing! I wonder if he is one too
- theragra 2y agoYou make me doubt myself. I can't imagine stuff with the closed eyes, but when I read book I kind of can imagine stuff somewhat. Is it aphantasia or not? Matter of degree?
- z5h 2y agoAphantasia is objectively measurable. Aphants lack a pupil response to “imagining” shapes of various brightness. They also lack the measurable “stress/anxiety” response to anxiety provoking written passages, but not images. If any part of your imagination is like the experience of seeing, you probably don’t have it.
- theragra 2y agoNo, I remember it was like experience of seeing when I was a kid. I really saw stuff when I read the book. Now I kind of imagine it with thinking somehow. Hard to explain.
- nswest23 2y agointeresting...see this is why I although I find some of his work interesting I can't really get into it. I prefer fiction w/more visual descriptions that I can get immersed in.