Synesthesia

Introduction

Synesthesia in literature is a fascinating rhetorical device that blends sensory experiences to create rich, multi-layered descriptions. It goes beyond the conventional boundaries of sensory data, mixing one type of sensory input with another in unexpected ways. For example, an author might describe a sound using terms typically reserved for color, such as saying a voice is “velvety” or a sound is “bright yellow.” This device not only enhances imagery but also deepens the emotional resonance and sensory impact of the text. It invites readers into a more immersive and visceral understanding of the narrative, making the scene or emotion more palpable.

Pronunciation

sih-nes-THEE-zhuh

When Do Writers Use Synesthesia?

Writers often use synesthesia to bring fresh perspectives and vividness to their descriptions, making the ordinary appear extraordinary. This literary device is particularly useful in poetry and prose that aim to evoke intense feelings or paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader. By combining different senses, writers can create novel and surprising images, which can make their work more engaging and memorable. Synesthesia is also employed to express complex emotions and ideas in a more intuitive and relatable way, helping readers to visualize and feel the writer’s imaginative world.

Rules for Using Synesthesia

To effectively use synesthesia in your writing, consider the following guidelines:

1. Choose Combinations That Enhance Meaning: The sensory combinations should not only be surprising but also enrich the text’s emotional or thematic content. For instance, describing the sound of rain as “silver whispers” can convey a gentle, soothing atmosphere.
2. Use Sparingly for Impact: Overusing synesthesia can overwhelm the reader and dilute its effectiveness. Employ it strategically to highlight key moments or emotions in your narrative.
3. Align with Context and Tone: Ensure that the synesthetic descriptions fit the overall tone and context of your work. They should enhance, not detract from, the reader’s immersion in the story.
4. Experiment with Different Senses: Don’t limit yourself to common combinations, like color and sound. Consider less explored senses like taste and smell to create truly unique imagery.
5. Revise and Refine: After writing, review your use of synesthesia to make sure it’s clear and impactful. Sometimes, what makes sense in your mind might not translate as well on the page, so refining these descriptions can significantly improve their clarity and effectiveness.

Types of Synesthesia

Synesthesia is not just a singular experience but comes in various forms, each intertwining different senses. Here are some common types:

1. Grapheme-Color Synesthesia: Individuals perceive numbers or letters as inherently colored.
2. Chromesthesia: Sounds, such as musical notes or people’s voices, are perceived as colors.
3. Lexical-Gustatory Synesthesia: Specific words trigger a taste sensation.
4. Spatial Sequence Synesthesia: Numbers, months, or days of the week are perceived as occupying points in space.
5. Ordinal Linguistic Personification: Numbers, letters, or days might be associated with personalities or genders.

Synesthesia in Literature

Synesthesia has been a popular device in literature, used to enrich narrative and poetry. Here are some famous examples:

1. Vladimir Nabokov: His novel Lolita features passages where Nabokov, a synesthete himself, blends senses like taste and color.
2. Charles Baudelaire: His poem “Correspondences” from Les Fleurs du mal is a foundational text in symbolist poetry that uses synesthetic elements to link scents and colors with sounds.
3. John Keats: In his poem “Ode to a Nightingale,” Keats describes tasting the wine through his senses in a synesthetic blend of sight, taste, and smell.

Synesthesia in Children’s Books

Synesthesia is also used creatively in children’s literature to stimulate young imaginations. Some notable examples include:

1. “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt: Colors in this book express emotions and actions, making children imagine colors as characters with distinct personalities.
2. “My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss: This book describes different feelings through colors and animal metaphors, helping children connect their emotions with sensory experiences.

Synesthesia in Poetry

Poetry, with its rich reliance on imagery and emotion, often turns to synesthesia. Some remarkable instances include:

1. Arthur Rimbaud: His sonnet “Voyelles” assigns colors to vowels, suggesting complex sensory experiences.
2. Dylan Thomas: In “Fern Hill,” Thomas uses phrases like “green and golden” to describe sounds, merging visual sensations with auditory ones to evoke a nostalgic and idyllic landscape.
3. T.S. Eliot: In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” Eliot blends sensory experiences to deepen the emotional undercurrents, like describing the evening “spread out against the sky like a patient etherized upon a table.”

These examples show how synesthesia can be a powerful tool across different forms of literature, enhancing the sensory experience of the reader and adding depth to the expression of ideas and emotions.

Synesthesia in Songs

Many songwriters use synesthetic techniques to evoke stronger imagery or emotions in their lyrics. Here are ten notable examples:

1. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles: The lyrics paint vibrant, surreal scenes using colors and shapes.
2. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix uses color to describe the sensory haze surrounding him.
3. “Yellow” by Coldplay: The color yellow is used to evoke a deep, emotional landscape.
4. “Taste” by Animal Collective: This song questions sensory experiences and perceptions, mixing them in unique ways.
5. “Colorblind” by Counting Crows: This song uses color imagery to convey feelings of emotional numbness.
6. “Blue” by Joni Mitchell: Mitchell uses blue as a central theme to describe her feelings and surroundings.
7. “Blackbird” by The Beatles: While primarily focused on sound, the song evokes visual imagery of darkness and light.
8. “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones: The song uses colors metaphorically to describe mood and desire for oblivion.
9. “Scar Tissue” by Red Hot Chili Peppers: Describes sensory experiences of pain and sight.
10. “Electric Feel” by MGMT: This song mixes sensory descriptions of sound and kinetic energy.

Synesthesia in Movies

Films often use synesthetic techniques to create a visceral viewing experience. Here are some examples where sensory elements are mixed:

1. “Ratatouille” – The scene where Remy the rat experiences various flavors visually as vibrant, abstract shapes.
2. “Fantasia” – This Disney classic uses music and animation to pair sounds with visual motion and color in an orchestral setting.
3. “The Fall” – The film features vivid imagery that matches the narrative with lush, saturated colors, blending sight and story.
4. “Baby Driver” – The film syncs the soundtrack with the action on screen, merging auditory cues with visual elements.
5. “Enter the Void” – Uses visual effects to replicate the psychedelic and sensory overload experiences of drug trips.

Famous Movie Line Highlighting Synesthesia

One iconic line that reflects synesthetic experience comes from the movie “Ratatouille.” The character Anton Ego says:

“In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.”

This line accompanies a scene visually representing flavors with colors and shapes, a perfect example of synesthetic experience in film.

Youtube Link Demonstrating Synesthesia

Watch Ratatouille’s Flavor Scene

Synesthesia in Advertising

Advertising often uses synesthesia to make products more appealing or memorable:

1. Sony Bravia’s “Colour Like No Other” campaign: Used thousands of colorful bouncing balls in San Francisco to visually represent the vibrant quality of their TV screens.
2. Apple’s iPod Silhouette Ads: These ads used vibrant colors and music, making viewers ‘feel’ the music visually.
3. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk: The “Glass and a Half Full Productions” ads often mix visuals and sounds to create a sensory-rich experience of taste and enjoyment.
4. Gucci’s Flora Fragrance ads: These ads visually represent the scent of flowers with lush, vibrant imagery to evoke the smell through visuals.

Synesthesia-Related Literary Devices

Synesthesia is closely related to other literary devices that enhance sensory experience or emotional response:

1. Metaphor: Likens one thing to another to make a description more vivid or meaningful.
2. Simile: Uses “like” or “as” to compare two different things, creating a sensory link.
3. Personification: Gives human characteristics to non-human elements, which can include sensory experiences.
4. Imagery: Uses descriptive language to create pictures in the mind of the reader, often engaging multiple senses.
5. Allusion: A reference to another text, place, event, or work of art, potentially evoking sensory memories or associations.

These devices can be used in conjunction to create a rich, sensory-laden narrative that appeals to readers’ emotions and imaginations.