Types of Interpretation in the Aesthetic Disciplines

"Types of Interpretation in the Aesthetic Disciplines" begins from the observation that interpretation, even the special kind represented by interpretation of the arts, is not a homogeneous activity. The many different types of such interpretation vary with respect to objectives and criteria of adequacy and attempts to explain art interpretation in terms of a single, unified logic are therefore bound to fail.Five Swedish scholars and theorists from different disciplines - literary studies, philosophy, and art history - discuss the multiplicity of principles of interpretation and provide a descriptive analysis of the concept of interpretation itself that clarifies the main features of the rationale underlying the interpretation of literature and the arts. Their discussion provides a much-needed bridge between analytical aesthetics and theoretical discussion within the individual aesthetic disciplines. The introduction and concluding remarks by the editors provide both a frame for discussion of the issues and a historical perspective on the debates about interpretation. Contributors include: Staffan Carlshamre (Stockholm University), Margaretha Rossholm Lagerlof (Stockholm University), Anders Pettersson (Umea University), Torsten Pettersson (Uppsala University), and Goran Rossholm (Stockholm University).