Scalping into Fiction

[burntpunk]

I understand that with a great deal of the classical fiction canon much of the interpretations are canned in the consensus area, this may be due to the heavy studying into these books. But what about with the lesser studies books? In my experiences, upon reading, I've shared my ideas with peers, or researched heavily into interpretations and concepts drawn from the novel, and my own ideas upon the novel have conformed to other ideas. Are you interpretations of fiction individual -- how influenced are you?

[JBI]

Very individual - from my experience, criticism in general, and the act of discussing, should be used to uncover things that help direct a trace, rather than the direct result of a trace. So one should not present the meaning, but rather present how the meaning is to be arrived at. The meaning itself is always personal, but the trace is the text, and to cut at the text is the job of group reading, or criticism.

[burntpunk]

*nod*

You've made a valid point with the difference between the trace and meaning. One must be careful to consult their personal interpretation (internal) before dealing with interpretation in other forms, as to not taint the meaning that they gain from the text.

[burntpunk]

*nod*

You've made a valid point with the difference between the trace and meaning. One must be careful to consult their personal interpretation (internal) before dealing with interpretation in other forms, as to not taint the meaning that they gain from the text.

[twilight661]

I often find myself reading notes about a book before I read it. This most probably taints -- to borrow your word, burntpunk -- the experience, when I sit down and genuinely come up with my own theories on certain books, it's a lot more rewarding, I tell ye.

[prendrelemick]

I do the exact opposite twilight. I always form my own ideas first, although this is difficult with "The Classics". To this end I wont read forwards or introductions or even book covers until after i've finished them. If a book has intrigued me or left me puzzled (often) I'll look at the criticism and the Lit Net Forums. I do this for fear of "taint" as burntpunk called it, and also as I read for my own pleasure I can afford to be wrong.