Readings: alternative, dominant, resistant

Introduction

While composers construct texts for particular audiences, with particular purposes, it is ultimately up to the reader as to the meaning of any given text. This is why your teachers will often say that 'there is no wrong answer'. What is important to be successful in your study of English, is to be able to give good reasons for your opinion. Many texts have been interpreted (explained as meaning something) and reinterpreted (as meaning something else). This is often because responders who are interpreting the texts have different contexts.

Readings

When we refer to readings, we refer to what we believe the text to mean. This is often dependent on context. An example will help to explain this more clearly.

It was a dark and stormy night. Two black horses slick with rain bolted through the street visible for only a second in the dim light thrown from the saloon. The relentless heavy snorting and neighs were all but unnoticed by the rowdy congregation within. The two stallions galloped into the cruel, cold night, free at last.

Text One

What does meaning refer to when analysing this text? There are a number of layers of meaning. In a literal sense, the text means that two horses galloped through town on a rainy night unnoticed by the townspeople. If we look more closely, however, we have imagined a scenario here. From this short extract we have understood that the town is a town from the Old West and that the townspeople are quite rough. What has given us this idea? The opening phrase, 'It was a dark and stormy night' is reminiscent of a Western genre. The word 'saloon' is probably enough to indicate this genre. This, combined with 'the rowdy congregation', emphasises the roughness of the town.

Finally, we can start to interpret this extract. What could it mean? Is there a message? The fact that the two stallions are 'free at last' indicates that they may have been ill-treated or do not enjoy being work horses. We could then read this short text as having a message that animals should be free. This is one 'reading'.

We could also, however, read this extract as being more about the vices (evils) of drinking at the saloon. In this reading the horses have escaped because their owners were in the saloon, a part of the 'rowdy congregation.'

You may be able to come up with other readings for this extract. The important point to realise is that it is up to the reader to decide which reading they will take. This comes down to context. A person who has experienced the negative effects of heavy drinking may take the second reading while a person who loves animals may take the first.

Dominant and resistant readings

Dominant readings are the most common and widely-accepted interpretations of a given text. An alternative reading is any reading that differs from the commonly accepted interpretation. A resistant reading is an alternative reading that contradicts the dominant reading. Think about the words resistant (the noun form of the verb to 'resist') and dominant (the noun form of the verb to dominate) and it will help you to retain the meanings of the terminology. Brian Moon (page 36 in the Mitchell English Workbook 4) gives an example of two readings of the fairytale Cinderella:

Reading One Dominant reading The story presents an ideal image of romantic love. It shows that true love will prevail no matter what the odds, and it encourages people to believe that dreams can come true. The story encourages an optimistic outlook on life.

 

Reading Two Resistant reading The story is about the shallowness of men who judge women solely on the basis of physical attractiveness. A man who will marry a woman on the basis of a few hours of dancing is likely to leave her just as quickly. No wonder most of the women in the story are bitter. This should be read as a cautionary tale against the idea of romantic love. Brian Moon, Literary Terms

Text two

From this example we can see how readings can be different. Consider how context has influenced the readings. You may have studied feminism, or at least suffrage, in your history class. How might a change in attitude towards women in the 20th century have influenced Brian Moon's reading of 'Cinderella'?

Some common readings from the syllabus

At some stage you may be asked to consider texts from particular points of view called literary criticisms. Remember that these readings are applied to text. The outcome of such readings does not necessarily reflect the composer's purpose. Note carefully that the four examples in this chapter apply to the same text. As such, neither is more correct. The following readings seek to analyse text for often unconscious and natural prejudices or themes running through texts.

Feminist readings

Feminist readings of texts interpret the text based on the representations of women. A feminist reading will often rely upon instances where women have either been empowered or disempowered by the masculine in a text. An example will explain this more completely.

Reading Three A feminist reading Cinderella is portrayed as a woman repressed, abused and reduced to domestic work. In order to break free of this repression she is forced to enter into a world full of masculine power. She is appreciated for her ball gown and refinement. Further, her only hope to escape the shackles of domestic bondage relies on her ability to seduce and ensnare a man.

Text three

Marxist readings

The term Marxism is a reference to Karl Marx whose fame comes from his description of society as consisting of class struggles. A Marxist reading will focus on the class struggles of the characters. Often this will involve a person from a lower class overcoming the power which those in the upper classes hold.

Reading Four A Marxist reading Cinderella is representative of a repressed class. She is reduced to unskilled and demeaning labour. Her struggle to overcome this repressed state represents class struggles throughout history.

Text four

This is the briefest of overviews of literary criticisms. Be aware that they exist and if you study them, remember that this is merely one point of view that has been applied to a text. This does not mean that this was the composer's purpose or that it is the only way to view a text.

In this chapter

Context can influence meaning. Specifically, the personal context of a responder will influence the interpretation of a text. This can be in a general sense where descriptive passages have a distinct personal meaning or, more specifically, where a responder chooses a dominant, alternative or resistant reading to apply to a text. Literary criticism is the act of finding particular points of views through which texts can be 'read'. They are frameworks through which responders analyse topics and themes as they appear in a text and are applied to texts.