Addicted to Distraction | Ted Gioia | How I Write Podcast
How I Write
Balancing Minimalism with Maximalism in Prose
The dominance of a minimalist aesthetic in American prose, greatly influenced by Hemingway and Ezra Pound's short, declaratory sentences, has shaped the tradition of concise, punchy writing. Despite the lasting impact, there is a yearning for a return to a more maximalist style, like that seen in works such as Moby Dick and by contemporary authors like David Foster Wallace, known for his daring use of footnotes and extensive elaboration. The speaker believes that while minimalism has its place, a resurgence of maximalism in literature may occur cyclically in the future.
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