Re: RARA-AVIS: Reader or author

From: Allan Guthrie ( allan@allanguthrie.co.uk)
Date: 06 Sep 2006


I'm not aware of representing anything, given that I've never studied lit crit. Simply offering my opinion as a writer rather than a critic. I'm sure that whatever school of criticism is in vogue is the right one, though (cough, ahem)...

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: juri.nummelin@pp.inet.fi
  To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 9:41 AM
  Subject: RARA-AVIS: Reader or author

  Allan:

> You're missing my point, Juri. When a character tells a story is not the
  same as the author telling a
> story. Any apparent 'social assumptions' are those of the character. That
  much you can say. To
> make the claim that they are also those of the author may or may not be true
  but I don't see how a > reader can tell simply from the text.

  This might collapse into a discussion of semantics, but I should say that
  reader can tell the social assumptions simply because he reads the text. The
  results may vary, but the text itself guides the way. But you're right - there
  are various factors in a story and narration.

  I've understood that literary studies is veering back towards the new critique
  and understanding how a text works in itself and that the postmodern attitude
  which you seem to represent (sorry if I'm wrong here) is considered dated (i.e.
  that the reader is the main source of meaning, not the text itself).

  Juri

   

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