4. Foster talks about the relationship between the reader and the writer suggesting that, “reading is an event of the imagination…a reader’s imagination is the act of one creative intelligence engaging another (the writer’s). How does this occur? What does this suggest about the nature and process of reading and writing?
When reading Through "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" I imagined Foster being comedic in many of his statements. While to me personally, he seemed to express blunt humor through his work, others who read this book might suggest otherwise. Everyone imagines a differing type of approach Foster might have in his own work, this shows that every imagination or creative intelligence differs from others since they all engage the writers work differently and how they might progress the text. Therefore, this example shows that the reader is actively trying to decipher what the author has left for them, but during this progress the readers imagination morphs and shapes the readers meaning into their own interpretation. This is a creative liberty on ones work, the reader cannot always pinpoint how the writers creative intelligence works, so with compromising and still obtaining the overall meaning they gained from themselves and the authors work.
One must be open minded when reading They must be creatively smart to understand and place the information they are given into their own words and interpret the writers work into their own. The nature of reading and writing is all about progressing what you are given and interpreting it as your own. It is a creative space that allows the reader to express how they think and their values depending on the piece.
I agree because I personally found Foster as comedic with a hint of sarcasm for most of the book. I did find that he was very blunt and forward in the times that were necessary. I also agree with the imagination because some the books Foster uses as examples I have not read, so my imagination was put to the test when I had to picture the works he was talking about. By keeping an open mind I was able to make the connections that Foster was hoping his readers would make. Those connections with the story and also with Foster allowed my understanding to grow deeper and resonate within me.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the reader must be open minded, especially when discussing the book with other readers. Everyone's interpretation will vary, everyone has their own unique ideas. Being open minded to these interpretations and ideas only allows for intellectual growth and development.
ReplyDeleteFosters approach to his writing varied as he felt that the audience should have different emotions about what he was saying. He was comedic and sarcastic probably the most prominently. I agree that a reader must remain open minded when reading. An author writes with his own point of view and more often than not, the reader interprets his own understanding of the reading based on prior experiences or different opinions or a number of many other factors. But as readers we have a job to consider an authors point of view and ask ourselves why they do what they do. Some of the connections Foster makes is to literature that I have no knowledge of. However, I still made the connections based on the authors descriptions and my use of imagination.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I agree with you when you write about Foster and his blunt humor. While we may take it as blunt humor, someone else might take it as rude, or even a little snarky. While reading your response, it alludes me to think back to ambiguity and how every reader can have a different meaning while they read depending on their own history within themselves and a book. The interpretations are endless when it comes to a person and how they read into a text. While one person may take a piece of literature one way, I could take it another.
ReplyDeleteI whole hardheartedly agree with your outlook on Foster's use of sarcasm throughout his book. Its interesting to entertain the many different perspectives from authors with how they use their tone and it almost makes me wonder if their writing reflects their personalities. Their (the writer's) personal experiences are what creates the story but the relationship with the reader alters the story to fit the reader's life experiences. I love how you describe this aspect as the reader's "creative liberty."
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