Unpacking Readerly vs. Writerly:
Macherey speaks of 'silence giving meaning to meaning.' Barthes speaks of readerly vs. writerly texts.
To my understanding, Barthes and Macherey agree on this element of semiotics because they refer to the same concept in different ways. Readerly texts are traditionally written texts. They only have meaning on the surface and do not pave the way for critical analysis or further extraction of meaning. Writerly texts deal with the unspoken part of written texts. This form of text puts the reader behind the wheel to interpret intertextually what he/she can from the author's framework. It allows the unspoken ideological themes to be interpreted in different ways depending on the reader's comprehension and understanding of the text and leaves open the opportunity for multiple meanings.
In essence, readerly text is that which is not generally elaborated upon because it has no room for critical interpretation. Writerly text is the opposite; it is that which theorists draw upon for exploration.
Food for thought: Check out Batman looking at the Bat Signal; for some it might just be a shining light in the sky. For Batman and those who believe in his vigilante pursuit of wrongdoers, it is a signal of hope and the pursuit of justice. Or maybe it's just the symbol of a guy in a cape chasing psycho killers for his own amusement. Depends on the reader. Right?
Macherey speaks of 'silence giving meaning to meaning.' Barthes speaks of readerly vs. writerly texts.
In essence, readerly text is that which is not generally elaborated upon because it has no room for critical interpretation. Writerly text is the opposite; it is that which theorists draw upon for exploration.
Food for thought: Check out Batman looking at the Bat Signal; for some it might just be a shining light in the sky. For Batman and those who believe in his vigilante pursuit of wrongdoers, it is a signal of hope and the pursuit of justice. Or maybe it's just the symbol of a guy in a cape chasing psycho killers for his own amusement. Depends on the reader. Right?
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