As authors and readers, we have a unique sense of responsibility; our works are our children, some piece of our very being manifested in words and punctuation. When something is published, it's being sent into the world like a child off to college, undeniably ours but living and changing with the world around it. What responsibility, then, does the world have to our works? Is it to analyze and criticize, to weed out the worthy from the passing fads? Is it to push it (and, by extension, its author) to do better? Or is it to accept it as it is? Does over-analyzing destroy that work, or is it simply not right to assume meaning for something that is not ours?
What responsibility does a reader have to a piece of writing?
I believe the responsibility of a reader to a piece of writing would be to analyze it and see how things can be done better. By seeing how things can be done better does not mean that its not accepted how it is. Things are done for a reason. The author might have a reason for writing something a certain way and the reader might not have seen or noticed why it was done that way. So I believe the readers have a sort of obligation to tell them they can do better but also just accept it how it is. I can't really find the right words to express what I mean by this. I hope this made sense.
ReplyDeleteA reader of a book is like a judge at an audition. The reader makes or breaks the book. If they don't like it, the book won't sell and it'll get bad ratings. If the judge doesn't like the singer, for example, they don't make it onto the next level
ReplyDeleteThe creator of a piece of art is the one to make the final decision. When you have someone read your work, you are usually looking for critique, but it is your choice to take what the reader said and use it. The author may decide whether or not they should take in what others say so I don't really believe over analyzing can kill a piece for anyone but yourself. If you over analyze a piece, you may destroy the enjoyment you would normally get out of reading it without analyzing it. And I'm not saying that you shouldn't critique others work, but no one is perfect and everyone has their own opinions. You may read something differently then what the author is trying to say, and that's okay. But the author is the one who made the piece, so they have the final say in their work.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the reader has a responsibility of a feedback sandwich to the writer if possible. If not they should talk to other readers about the piece. Or even write to the writer in an email or letter.
ReplyDeleteAnalysis of one's writing is a great way to enhance ones skills. Reading was the step we took before learning how to write, and is a big deal when trying to further ones withing fluency and diction.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as a reader you have the right to analyze a piece of writing and it is our duty to give our thoughtful feedback. Do we have to be cruel in our opinion, of course not. It is also our duty to learn from what we read and further use that knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI honestly believe the responsibility a reader has to a piece of writing(art), there are many, too many to count. They have the responsibility to keep it interresting. And for me its a way to vent , release some stress and tension. The biggest responsibility in my mind is to let your inner thoughts,and Feelings out. Let yourself be heard!
ReplyDeleteI believe that as the reader, part of your job is in fact to analyze and criticize a work. But, the reader's job is also to take a piece of work and appreciate it for what it is. There can be infinite things people want to say about a piece, but none of those things will have an effect on how the author views or feels about that piece. Readers have the responsibility of keeping that piece alive, keeping it relevant and full of purpose.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly. I think a reader's job is, ultimately, to care about a piece. Whatever meaning it may have for the author, I think there's an expectation that upon deciding to read a piece that person will bother to find in it some meaning so they can, as you said, keep it alive and full of purpose. (Not sure if I should be answering my own question, but I really liked your response.)
DeleteI really loved how you responded to this question. I agree to your comment I love how you said "There can be infinite things people want to say about a piece, but none of those things will have an effect on how the author views or feels about that piece." because there's always something that someone what's to change in a story but in the end they still continue to read on and keeping the story alive.
DeleteI think a reader has many jobs involving a piece. They should form their own opinions on it and find out what it means to them. They should also critique it but not to criticize the author more so to guide them in their own feelings on the piece. (I hope that made sense)
ReplyDeleteA reader can just analyze the piece. if they chose to, they could critique and find ways to relate to it to their life. there are many things readers can do as readers.
ReplyDeleteI think that a reader has the responsibility to attempt to see the writing through the author's eyes. When you read thinking that way, it becomes a more authentic experience, and one where you can understand the material in ways that you couldn't before.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say the read is suppose to give the writer feed back to there peace of work. The writer may not agree with what the reader has to say about that but it their opinion and they need to also look at it in the way the reader may read it as. You have to be able to take both perspective of the work.
ReplyDeleteWhen I write, I think I subconsciously want the reader to just dive into the meaning of my work without over analyzing it. However, I know that as a reader they have to automatically judge and analyze it. Although it could get a bit tedious at times, it makes the piece better and the author wiser at the end.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if a writer should treat their writing as if it is a baby. Take care of it and love it as if it were a child. You are allowed to not completely like your writing sometimes but in the end you should always love it.
ReplyDeleteA reader should both appreciate a work for what it is, and critique it for what its not or where it could be better. Balance between these two things is important.
ReplyDeleteWhat if you change the question a little? What responsibility does a bystander or stranger have to a person? Not all that much really, the responsibility of a person to a stranger is to treat it with respect, to possibly form an opinion and to maybe say a few words of feedback, that's most of it really. Whether the person takes or does not take the stranger's opinion is up to that person. Similar to an author's piece of work. Feedback is as important to the author, as the author makes it. But the work should always be appreciated, for what it is, and also what it can become. (at this point, I do not know if I am making any sense.)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say a writer has a responsibility for writing it's more or less a skill that a writer has to obtain, unless the responsibility is education. A good writer, I think, should know how to be creative and original to make a good piece of writing.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say a writer has a responsibility for writing it's more or less a skill that a writer has to obtain, unless the responsibility is education. A good writer, I think, should know how to be creative and original to make a good piece of writing.
ReplyDeletePersonally I believe that as a reader the priority is to enjoy. To get lost in the piece and soak it up. Secondly a reader should understand and think about the piece on a level that related to the writer. Lastly they should take note and see how that writing affects their life. Over analyzing have the ability to destroy a piece if it is taken to the level of applying the piece to your life as a reader, of that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI would say a reader would have the responsibility to try and dig through the words of a piece of writing and figurebout the true meaning of what it is actually saying. Also, they should enjoy the skill and power writing can have.
ReplyDeleteThe reader's responsibility to analyze what the author is trying to get across. Every story has a deeper meaning to it that should always be found. I don't think it's over analyzing that ruins the story. I think it's analyzing and getting the wrong meaning of the story that ruins it.
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