Reading Assessment 2

1. What is the author’s thesis? → The author’s thesis is that good interpretation does not only inform the reader/listener about the subject of the photo, but also conveys the story deep within the art.
2. What examples does he use to support the thesis? → Barrett talks about how Sonstag, in her critique of Wall’s work, did not provide more information than required preventing the reader from being distracted from the nature and subject of the piece. Additionally he focused on how she used descriptive language to explain what the piece was aiming to achieve, thus relaying the inner story of the art to her readers.
3. In your own words, how does Barrett define interpretation? → Barrett defines interpretation as taking a photograph and analyzing it in order to determine it’s message, meaning, expression, and influences amongst plenty others. He says that, as a critic, interpretation is relaying the point, mood, sense, meaning or tone - be it in written or verbal form.
4. According to Barrett, why is interpretation important in criticism of photographs? →  It helps us get an understanding of what the critic sees, what they feel - they also inform us of how it was made, fits together, and affects the subject. It offers a new language to something we may have always understood in only one way.
5. In Chapter 3 Barrett gives examples of various interpretations from different “interpretive perspectives” and “interpretive strategies” - choose one that stood out, surprised you, or interested you in some way and discuss why. → Interpretive perspectives interested me the most, because it described how much a critic could influence a reader’s opinion. Before I read this, I had always looked at critic reviews as descriptive essays when they were in fact persuasive essays.
6. In your own words, what is/are the main point(s) the author is trying to make in the section “‘Right’ Interpretations”? → His point focuses on the idea that there are not “True” and “False” interpretations, rather there are convincing and unconvincing interpretations and that there is merit in listening to another person’s interpretation even if you do not share their opinion.
7. In your own words, what is/are the main point(s) the author is trying to make in the section “Interpretations and the Artist’s Intent”? → Intentionalism faces problems in regard to the fact that it is sometimes difficult to find out what the artist’s intentions were - if they had any at all. Barrett stated that he felt interpretation was something that should be left to the viewer, as the opposite allows their opinion to be changed and remove the much needed skill of interpretation from them.
8. Write about two other key points that you learned from this week’s reading. → I learned that there is an important distinction to be made between the terms significance and meaning, the former of which is much more personal in regards to the individual’s interpretations. I also was unaware that interpretations are overseen by a community, similar in practice to the scientific community as they both analyze the works of others and deem whether or not they are viable to be included.
9. Summarize - what is the author’s conclusion? → Barrett’s writing focuses on the intricacies of interpretation, how they can shape our own opinions and interpretations, and how important it is to consider the interpretations of other individuals. These interpretations help us to better appreciate and understand art, in addition to increasing one's ability to create proper dialogue about the art and it's meaning in the way that a critic might.