Over at HTMLGiant, Jimmy Chen has created a great infographic separating some of his favorite writers into three categories, with, of course, copious amount of overlap. He writes, ”I think of all writing being from the head (pros: cerebral, conceptual; cons: didactic, dry), the mouth (pros: language, poetics; cons: empty banter, pure form), and the heart (pros: empathic, intimate; cons: sentimental, emotional).” Perhaps needless to say, highest honors (in Chen’s head and ours) go to those authors who can write from all three centers equally well or even concurrently. Do you agree with his distinctions and choices? Let us know in the comments, or head over to HTMLGiant and join the discussion there.
Comments (9)
Ayn Rand should get her own category: ARSE.
Am I right in seeing that there’s ONE female name in the “head” category? Are we sure this diagram wasn’t created by V.S. Naipaul?
Or maybe you should read the article and realize it’s a list of Jimmy Chen’s favorite authors, so perhaps you shouldn’t be so sensitive about it.
Fun idea. Franzen is in the wrong place though – should be just above Flaubert
Nabokov should definitely be within the overlap of head and mouth – he’s so cerebral! I have no arguments with the rest, though.
Nabokov mouth??? mmm… i would rather agree with Gaby – head and mouth!
well, this is just about the most controversial thing I’ve ever seen. today.
Vonnegut should be at least nearer to being a head and heart overlap.
Seeing that the authors aren’t listed alphabetically within mouth, brain, or heart sections but rather scattered, suggesting some are more eloquent than others or more of a cerebral writer, would that mean that Joyce is the perfect combination of mouth, brain, and heart, or that he is lukewarm in all three? Whoever made this diagram must either love Joyce or really, really dislike him.
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