Preserving Literary Imagination in the Age of Video Dominance: The Case for Text Aesthetics as Cognitive Rehabilitation

This paper challenges the narrative of inevitable "linguistic entropy" in the video-dominated era, arguing instead for the irreplaceable cognitive value of text-based aesthetic engagement. Drawing on neuroscience and embodied cognition research, we propose the "Rendering Engine Dormancy Hypothesis": human imagination has not atrophied but merely entered hibernation due to passive video consumption. We distinguish between video as "pre-rendered content" (passive reception) and text as "raw ingredients" (active mental rendering), positioning literary appreciation as a form of bilateral brain collaboration. The paper critiques AI doomism while advocating for AI-assisted cognitive rehabilitation programs, particularly targeting middle school language education as the "last watchtower" for imagination preservation. We conclude with actionable recommendations for educators, policymakers, and AI developers to reverse semantic heat death through deliberate textual engagement.