We didn't have television until I was about eight years old, so it was either the movies or radio. A lot of radio drama. That was our television, you know. We had to use our imagination. So it was really those two things, and the comics, that I immersed myself in as a child.

The quote "We didn't have television until I was about eight years old, so it was either the movies or radio. A lot of radio drama. That was our television, you know. We had to use our imagination. So it was really those two things, and the comics, that I immersed myself in as a child" by Jessica Hagedorn reflects on the formative influences of her childhood, where entertainment came through radio and movies instead of television. Hagedorn highlights how, in the absence of modern visual media, she and others of her generation relied on their imagination to engage with stories and characters.

Hagedorn emphasizes how radio drama played a crucial role in her early life, serving as a substitute for television by providing vivid, auditory experiences that required listeners to create mental images. The act of listening to radio dramas required listeners to engage their minds more actively, using their imagination to visualize the scenes, characters, and emotions conveyed through sound alone. This, in turn, fostered a sense of creativity and storytelling that would have a lasting impact on her own artistic development.

The mention of movies and comics further illustrates how Hagedorn’s childhood was shaped by forms of entertainment that invited active participation and personal interpretation. Rather than passively watching television, she immersed herself in visual and auditory narratives that stimulated her creative faculties. The act of consuming comics and movies required her to interact with the medium, envisioning the world of the story while also processing its emotional and narrative complexities.

Ultimately, the quote reflects on how early exposure to different forms of media, especially those that encouraged active engagement and imagination, helped shape Hagedorn's creative worldview. Her childhood experiences with radio, movies, and comics underscore how storytelling can thrive even without the instantaneous visual stimulation that television provides, offering a deeper connection to the power of imagination and creative exploration.