Re:The Most Misread Poem in America
by StavrosK on Saturday September 12, 2015 @07:00AM
(#10207791)
> Why must there be evidence and explicit intent expressed outside the text?
There mustn't. They can also be expressed inside the text, or at least hinted at.
> It's not surprising that when those emergent properties are interpreted by others that similar feelings are produced, connections made.
Sure, and saying "this work evokes in me these feelings" is fine. Saying "the author here is symbolizing X with Y" is not.
> But I also don't begrudge those who decide they want to spend their time on endless mock drafts and fantasy sports leagues.
I don't have a problem with people saying "I think that this may be symbolism for X", because then I can just say "well, I don't think it is, but sure". I have a problem with people expressing their hypothesis as fact, basically.
There mustn't. They can also be expressed inside the text, or at least hinted at.
> It's not surprising that when those emergent properties are interpreted by others that similar feelings are produced, connections made.
Sure, and saying "this work evokes in me these feelings" is fine. Saying "the author here is symbolizing X with Y" is not.
> But I also don't begrudge those who decide they want to spend their time on endless mock drafts and fantasy sports leagues.
I don't have a problem with people saying "I think that this may be symbolism for X", because then I can just say "well, I don't think it is, but sure". I have a problem with people expressing their hypothesis as fact, basically.