Theories of Reader Response and Reception in Contemporary Critical Applications

Abstract

The theorists of Reader Response Theory drew from a variety of scientific studies to arrive at a specific methodological framework, upon which a comprehensive theory was established. This methodology is characterized by a blend of historical and psychological approaches, along with linguistic, structural, and interpretive methods. This integration opened modern literary studies to vast realms that went beyond the aspects covered by other literary study methodologies.

Proponents of the historical approach studied literary texts as evidence reflecting historical events, while those adopting the psychological method focused on analyzing literary characters or the personalities of authors. Social theorists examined literature as a social phenomenon, whereas structuralists paid attention to the linguistic composition of texts. With the emergence of Reader Response Theory, the focus shifted to the reader as a fundamental component in the creative process, which consists of the text, author, and reader. This theory is named as such because it emphasizes the reader or audience receiving literary and artistic works, highlighting their experience in

reading literary texts and observing their interactions with those texts. This reveals the reader's genuine existence in the literary works they engage with; they are no longer just passive recipients but active participants who contribute to shaping, completing, discussing, and understanding the text in ways they deem appropriate. Under this theory, the reader does not receive texts passively, showing dependence on the author; instead, they can confront any text with knowledge and information that lead to differing expectations regarding the texts they read. Therefore, Reader Response Theory is a means for liberating the reader from the dominance of the author and preserving their beliefs and ideas from being dissolved into what is presented to them. This transformation allows them to become informed, critical, and active readers who maintain their identities. Their reading becomes a dialogue between two parties, where this dialogue does not necessitate a follower and a leader. Thus, this theory strives to preserve the essence of readers so they do not fall prey to what they read, especially when the material relates to ideological aspects that promote ideas contrary to their views. Consequently, elevating the level of dialogue, as this theory suggests, is fundamentally a matter of fairness to the reader. In Reader Reception Theory, the authority of the reader began to take shape with German critics at the University of Constance, who transitioned Reader Response Theory into an aesthetic domain, coining it "Aesthetics of Reception," a term contrasting with the American critics' term "Reader Response Theory." The Reception Theory among German critics was based on the philosophies of "hermeneutics" and "phenomenology," which transformed their ideas into procedures that formed a practical approach to studying literary texts. Hermeneutic philosophy was notably articulated by German philosopher Friedrich Schleiermacher, who moved classical hermeneutical ideas from theology to art. He established standards that necessitated reading texts to avoid misunderstandings during the reading process and thus regulate comprehension and interpretation. He defined hermeneutics as "the art of avoiding misunderstanding" (Mustafa, 2007, p. 65), aiming for correct understanding not only of literary texts but also of all texts read by individuals, such as newspapers, advertisements, and religious or cultural books. This is achieved by linking texts to their contexts, considering context as one of the essential elements for realizing proper understanding.