lacansmirror, Writerly vs Readerly

Barthes addresses the readerly text and writerly text in a few different ways.  He argues that the readerly text is simply one where the reader receives ‘familiar’ information.  For example, a readerly text is one that does not bring up new concepts but instead reiterates the practices and representations of the readers’ culture.  Modern texts that follow this logic could include stories or movies that are very predictable.  A readerly text can still be pleasurable, yet it does not cause the reader to unpack a complex ideology. 

A traditional boy meets girl story or film is definitely a readerly text.  The concepts are not new to the reader, but it can still be enjoyable.  Contrasting that idea, a writerly text exposes parts of its content that the readerly text does not.  Writerly texts give the reader an opportunity to input their own meanings and thoughts into the narratives.  In that case, a meta-narrative, like we discussed in class is produced.  Writerly text gives the reader a chance to write their own text and fill the gaps created by the author. 

For example, the Bible is a writerly text because it is a meta-narrative and it allows readers to interpret passages according to their opinions and cultural background.  Since many passages from the bible are not faced in our culture today, readers are able to interpret those differences.  By allowing the reader to also be a writer, the texts can have more unique meanings because it is interpreted differently by each reader.