Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle provides a concrete example, useful for grounding a discussion of the “Death of the Author”. Stealing a paragraph from Wikipedia
In The Jungle (1906), Sinclair gave a scathing indictment of unregulated capitalism as exemplified in the meatpacking industry. His descriptions of both the unsanitary conditions and the inhumane conditions experienced by the workers shocked and galvanized readers. Sinclair had intended it as an attack upon capitalist enterprise, but readers reacted viscerally. Domestic and foreign purchases of American meat fell by half. Sinclair lamented: “I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” The novel was so influential that it spurred government regulation of the industry, as well as the passage of the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Author’s really do intend specific interpretations, and can notice, with disappointment, when readers impose a different interpretation by weight of numbers.
I have a hard time sympathizing with Upton Sinclair’s complaint about the specifics of how his resounding success was implemented. He thought unregulated capitalism was bad, and explained why; people agreed, and tore down the “unregulated” part.
Author’s really do intend specific interpretations, and can notice, with disappointment, when readers impose a different interpretation by weight of numbers.
Yep. Any writer of fiction needs to understand the concept of “death of the author”, even if they don’t call it that—the text as all the reader has to go on.
Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle provides a concrete example, useful for grounding a discussion of the “Death of the Author”. Stealing a paragraph from Wikipedia
Author’s really do intend specific interpretations, and can notice, with disappointment, when readers impose a different interpretation by weight of numbers.
I have a hard time sympathizing with Upton Sinclair’s complaint about the specifics of how his resounding success was implemented. He thought unregulated capitalism was bad, and explained why; people agreed, and tore down the “unregulated” part.
Yep. Any writer of fiction needs to understand the concept of “death of the author”, even if they don’t call it that—the text as all the reader has to go on.