They were cures for warts (by washing your hands in moonlight in a silver basin) and toothache and cramp, and a spell for taking a swarm of bees. The picture of the man with toothache was so lifelike that it would have set your own teeth aching if you looked at it too long, and the golden bees which were dotted all round the fourth spell looked for a moment as if they were really flying. ... And the longer she read the more wonderful and more real the pictures became. (ch. 10)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Immersive art or storytelling becomes increasingly real to the observer the longer they engage with it.
- In plain terms
- Pictures or stories feel more real the longer you look or read.
- What can you take from it?
- Engagement increases perceived reality.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What stories feel real to you?
- How does time affect your perception?
Another view
Not all media maintains realism under prolonged scrutiny.
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