Reader Response Criticism, as the name suggests, focuses on the reader's experience of a text, rather than solely on the author's intent or the text itself. Here are some key qualities:
1. Emphasis on the Reader:
* Subjectivity: Acknowledges that each reader brings their own unique background, experiences, and interpretations to a text.
* Active Participation: Views reading as an active process of meaning-making, not a passive reception of information.
* Individual vs. Collective: Can examine individual responses or analyze patterns across a group of readers.
2. Focus on Interpretation:
* No Single "Correct" Reading: Rejects the idea of a singular, definitive meaning within a text.
* Multiple Perspectives: Recognizes that multiple interpretations are possible and valid, depending on the reader.
* Meaning is Created: Emphasizes that meaning is not inherent in the text, but rather constructed through the reader's engagement.
3. Diverse Approaches:
* Transactional: Views reading as a dynamic interaction between reader and text, where both contribute to meaning.
* Affective: Focuses on the reader's emotional response to the text.
* Cognitive: Examines the mental processes involved in reading, such as memory, schema, and inference.
* Social: Considers the social context and shared cultural experiences that influence reading.
4. Different Theories:
* Reception Theory: Examines how a text is received by different audiences over time.
* Reader-Response Theory: Focuses on the individual reader's experience and how they contribute to meaning.
* Psychoanalytic Reader-Response: Analyzes the unconscious desires and motivations of the reader as they interact with the text.
5. Key Terms:
* Horizon of Expectations: The reader's preconceived notions and expectations based on their background and previous experiences.
* Implied Reader: The ideal reader that the author creates in their mind as they write.
* Textual Gaps: Ambiguous or incomplete sections of the text that invite the reader to fill in the missing pieces.
In essence, Reader Response Criticism shifts the focus from the author and the text to the reader and their active engagement with the text. It recognizes the dynamic and subjective nature of interpretation, emphasizing the reader's role in constructing meaning.