ENGL 319 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Rorschach Test, Chris Marker, Illuminated Manuscript
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December 1st: robert stecker incompatible interpretations . When engaging with interpretation, we seek knowledge: logical incompatibility between two utterances, only one being true and embraced by the interpreter. Thesis one: there are or could be incompatible interpretations of the same artwork, both of which are true. Thesis two: there are or could be incompatible interpretations of the same artwork, both of which are acceptable: acceptable true. Something can be acceptable without being true. Acceptable if they are good reasons to endorse it even if it"s not true. Interpretation: a cognitive activity occasioned when one finds one does not understand or appreciate a work to satisfy desire to make sense of the work. Two ways to satisfy the desire for understanding: fallible, corrigible pursuit of an historical explanation of the work: *inquire into the maker"s intentions, her historical context, and the generative conditions and processes out of which the work arose.