What is a "reading" (1 Viewer)

[echelon4]

I'm asked to explain my 'reading' of King lear in a school assessment, but i still don't fully understand what a reading is. For instance, what is the difference between a reading and a theme, or a thesis? Could someone please explain, and maybe provide some examples of readings?

Thanks in advanced.

 

[Sarah168]

It means a critical reading with a feminist reading or marxist, psychoanalytic etc. If you've heard of them, then yeah, that's it. If not, someone else will come along and explain soon enough. I'm too tired to explain properly.

 

[P_Dilemma]

Your "reading" of the play/text/whatever is your "interpretation" of it.

For example, you may interpret George Bush's speeches as making sense and right, whereas I may interpret them as stupid, grammatically incorrect and grossly immoral.

Ok, it's not quite like that at school, but that's the general idea. What is the message the director is focussing on? Is he concerned with how women are portrayed in King Lear? Is he more concerned witht eh dymanics of the family relationship?

 

[ujuphleg]

To build upon this...

What is the message the director is focussing on? Is he concerned with how women are portrayed in King Lear? Is he more concerned witht eh dymanics of the family relationship?

Once you can ascertain where the focal point is then you can ascertain what kind of reading it is. If the focus is on women, then it might be a feminist reading.

Basically, when asked about readings in this Module, the question is asking you about interpretations.