Further to this is a theory put forward by the French Semiotician Roland Barthes.
He suggested that there were two types of texts:
-- Readerly
-- Writerly
A readerly text is one which someone reads. It is written in such a way that there is no room for interpretation or co-creation by the reader. It is a passive text.
A writerly text on the other hand is written in such a way that if you ask 10 people what was about, they would give you 10 different responses. It is written in such a way that the reader is 'writing' the text with their imagination and co-creating the text. This os the kind of text which are the ones everyone knows, and are remembered for decades (so not necessarily best-sellers). There is active engagement with the text.
As you mentioned, movies being so visual-focussed are readerly texts... there is no room for active engagement.
Although there are some ways which a film could be writerly..... but they're not going to necessarily be the big, popular ones - they are popular because they're easy to consume.
I have never heard this before in this way but I agree. This is why I very rarely use lists and try my best to leave many loose ends and threads to pick up. If there are lessons within, it is not the writers job to teach, it is the readers to learn. Thanks.
"Readerly texts & Writerly texts"I really like these concepts @peterloupelis.
And I agree in general with the focus of your comment. Therefore, I suppose my posts mostly are written in Writerly Texts. However, I'm still struggling to find out, where's the magic button to press to get that engagement on my writerly texts you are talking about. LoL
Yep.
Although engagement in the reader's mind is different to the kind of active engagement we mean in social-media-land which refers to commenting, sharing, liking/upvoting, etc.
Oh ok! Then, that clears things way better. Because on Social Media Land 'active engagement' with and thru my Writerly Texts usually always shine by their absence. 😂