13.3 Theories of reception and the role of the viewer in art interpretation

Reception theory shifts the focus from artists to viewers in art interpretation. It explores how audiences actively create meaning from artworks, influenced by their cultural background and expectations. This approach challenges the idea of fixed meanings in art.

Reader-response theory, a subset of reception theory, delves into viewers' subjective experiences with art. It examines how personal associations, emotions, and cultural contexts shape interpretations, recognizing that artworks can have multiple valid meanings depending on the viewer.

Reception Theory and Key Figures

Origins and Development of Reception Theory

Top images from around the web for Origins and Development of Reception Theory

• 

  Internationalizing the History of American Art: Views View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artist's statement - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The implications of the Staffordshire Hoard for the understanding of the origins and development ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Internationalizing the History of American Art: Views View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artist's statement - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Origins and Development of Reception Theory

• 

  Internationalizing the History of American Art: Views View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artist's statement - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The implications of the Staffordshire Hoard for the understanding of the origins and development ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Internationalizing the History of American Art: Views View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Artist's statement - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Reception theory emerged in literary criticism during the 1960s and 1970s
• Shifted focus from author's intentions to reader's interpretation and experience
• Emphasizes active role of audience in creating meaning from texts or artworks
• Developed as a response to formalist approaches in literary and art criticism
• Influenced by phenomenology, hermeneutics, and social psychology

Hans Robert Jauss and Horizon of Expectations

• Hans Robert Jauss, German literary scholar, pioneered reception theory in late 1960s
• Introduced concept of "horizon of expectations" in his 1967 lecture
• Horizon of expectations refers to set of cultural, ethical, and literary expectations readers bring to a text
• Argues that meaning of a work changes over time as horizons of expectations shift
• Proposed studying literature through lens of reader's historical and cultural context
• Emphasized importance of first reception in shaping subsequent interpretations

Wolfgang Iser and the Reading Process

• Wolfgang Iser, German literary theorist, focused on individual reader's experience
• Developed concept of "implied reader" as counterpart to "implied author"
• Explored how texts guide readers through specific strategies and structures
• Emphasized gaps or indeterminacies in texts that readers must fill with imagination
• Proposed that meaning emerges through dynamic interaction between text and reader
• Argued that literary works have a "wandering viewpoint" allowing multiple interpretations

Reader-Response Theory and Interpretive Communities

Foundations of Reader-Response Theory

• Reader-response theory emerged as subset of reception theory in 1970s
• Focuses on reader's subjective experience and interpretation of text or artwork
• Challenges notion of fixed, inherent meaning in artistic works
• Emphasizes plurality of interpretations based on individual readers' backgrounds
• Influenced by cognitive psychology, phenomenology, and poststructuralism
• Explores how readers construct meaning through personal associations and experiences

Aesthetic Response and Active Viewer

• Aesthetic response refers to emotional and intellectual reactions to artwork
• Emphasizes viewer's active role in creating meaning through engagement with art
• Involves personal interpretation, emotional connection, and critical analysis
• Recognizes that viewers bring unique perspectives shaped by cultural background
• Explores how formal elements of artwork (color, composition, texture) influence response
• Considers impact of viewing context (museum, public space, digital platform) on interpretation

Interpretive Communities and Shared Meanings

• Concept of interpretive communities introduced by Stanley Fish in 1980
• Proposes that groups of readers share similar interpretive strategies and assumptions
• Argues that meaning is not inherent in text but produced by interpretive communities
• Explores how professional critics, academic disciplines, and cultural groups shape interpretation
• Recognizes that individuals may belong to multiple interpretive communities
• Examines how interpretive communities evolve and negotiate conflicting interpretations

Historical and Contemporary Reception

Historical Reception and Changing Interpretations

• Historical reception examines how artworks were received and interpreted in past
• Involves studying contemporary reviews, critical essays, and audience reactions
• Explores how political, social, and cultural contexts influenced historical interpretations
• Examines changes in artistic canon and reevaluation of overlooked artists over time
• Considers impact of technological advancements (photography, printing) on art reception
• Investigates how historical events shaped reception of specific artworks or movements

Contemporary Reception and Digital Age

• Contemporary reception focuses on current interpretations and engagement with art
• Explores impact of globalization and digital technologies on art accessibility
• Examines role of social media in shaping art discourse and audience engagement
• Considers influence of art market and institutions on contemporary reception
• Investigates how identity politics and social movements affect art interpretation
• Explores new forms of participatory art and interactive digital experiences

Meaning-Making Process in Art Interpretation

• Meaning-making process involves viewer's active construction of artwork's significance
• Incorporates personal experiences, cultural background, and prior knowledge
• Involves cognitive processes of perception, memory, and association
• Considers impact of viewing context (museum labels, curatorial framing) on interpretation
• Explores role of emotion and empathy in connecting with artworks
• Examines how repeated viewings and discussions can alter interpretations over time