7. Where or how does ambiguity come into play in a reader's experience? How might ambiguity work within a piece of literature (or art of any kind?) How does it impact our understanding, and appreciation of a text?
Ambiguity is one of the most important pieces of understanding literature. When a story is ambiguous, it means there is more than one direction the reader can go, more specifically there is more than one possibility or meaning. Ambiguity guides the reader on the path that makes the most sense to them. Because every symbol or Christ figure is going to be interpreted differently, the authors must include ambiguity to make the story flow. While readers need this they must also rely on previous knowledge and experience to comprehend the full story. Ambiguity is like a fun house with crazy mirrors that have multiple exits. If ten people were to enter separately, and are all told find your way out, not all of them will go out the same door. Foster implies that no answer is wrong but also no answer is right. Every person reads a different way and cannot all be expected to get the same exact result. Ambiguity also helps strengthen the understanding of complex literature, because it allows a reader to see every point being made by the author. Once a reader has a deep understanding, they can take more from the text. Their eyes are now open to every possibility that is occurring within one story. This also applies to any other form of art including logos. The Wendy's logo, as we all know, has the smiling girl, but hidden in her neckline is the word mom. When Wendy's first came out it was not only designed to be a fast food restaurant, it also was designed to attract mothers to buy Wendy's and not cook. With a quick glance the word mom almost disappears, but with a closer look the word mom appears. This is like reading literature, it is always possible to miss information, but once the information has been found it is very hard to forget. Ambiguity leads to greater appreciation because it requires the reader to use an open mind which allows for every detail to be seen, and for the reader to learn something new and exciting every time.
What an interesting bit of trivia here at the bottom!
ReplyDeleteOur own individualism is what allows for us to each have our own interpretation. Each interpretation is not right nor wrong which makes the text itself even more complex because of the fact that we often can not come up with one concrete answer. Your idea of the fun house is interesting because it reiterates the fact that there are several "exits" or "answers," but everyone is going to use a different way to get to their own answer. Ambiguity allows readers to create their own "guide," or way to get to what you think the symbols means. This often includes asking questions, re-reading something, and simply delving deeper into what an author may have been trying to convey. Ambiguity allows for a deeper and more complex text as we find that there are many meanings for one thing.
ReplyDeleteI actually really liked what you said about the fun house mirrors and all of the correct, but different, ways to escape. I have never imagined or envisioned those different possible interpretations as literal routes as you explained, but I think that is a great example of just how ambiguity functions in literature or any art, really. If you think about it, even the mirrors fit well in the example since the experience of each individual as they embark on their journey through the house, or as they read, will quite literally be a reflection of themselves. I could not think of a better way to explain ambiguity to someone.
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