...the rationale for the existence of literature lies precisely in its ability to work on issues that concern us deeply. And it does so in a way that keeps our motivation at its highest intensity. Literature is fuel for 'hot cognition.' One may presume that imaginative literature is a property that all human cultures possess and as such may provide humans with an evolutionary advantage.Mette Hjort
About This Quote
The author is saying that literature is a powerful tool for people of all cultures because of its ability to serve as a means of expression. It allows people to express their emotions and thoughts about the world around them. This also serves as a way of remembering important events and experiences for generations to come. It can also be used to help people through hard times so they don’t feel so alone in their struggles.
Source: Emotion And The Arts
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More Quotes By Mette Hjort
- ...human beings are able to attend to issues longer, to think harder about them, to receive deeper impressions that last longer, if information is presented in a context of emotion--a sort of hot dressing--than if it is presented wholly without affect.
- ...the rationale for the existence of literature lies precisely in its ability to work on issues that concern us deeply. And it does so in a way that keeps our motivation at its highest intensity. Literature is fuel for 'hot cognition.' One may presume that...