<i>Misreadings</i> and “Non-existent” Parody: Umberto Eco’s Critical Interpretation and His “Pragmatic” Writing

LU Yi

Volume 2 Issue 2

Mar. 2021

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LU Yi. Misreadings and “Non-existent” Parody: Umberto Eco’s Critical Interpretation and His “Pragmatic” Writing[J]. International Comparative Literature, 2019, 2(2): 262-288.

Citation:

LU Yi. Misreadings and “Non-existent” Parody: Umberto Eco’s Critical Interpretation and His “Pragmatic” Writing[J]. International Comparative Literature, 2019, 2(2): 262-288.

LU Yi. Misreadings and “Non-existent” Parody: Umberto Eco’s Critical Interpretation and His “Pragmatic” Writing[J]. International Comparative Literature, 2019, 2(2): 262-288.

Citation:

LU Yi. Misreadings and “Non-existent” Parody: Umberto Eco’s Critical Interpretation and His “Pragmatic” Writing[J]. International Comparative Literature, 2019, 2(2): 262-288.

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Misreadings and “Non-existent” Parody: Umberto Eco’s Critical Interpretation and His “Pragmatic” Writing

LU Yi

Fu Jen University

Received Date: 2018-11-05
Publish Date: 2021-03-09

Abstract

Abstract

“ Parody” is an age-old phenomenon of writing. In the “ Preface” of Misreadings——a collection of experimental writings, Umberto Eco described the texts as“pastiche” and“parody.” Undoubtedly, Eco’s denomination inspires us to reconsider the definition of the“parody” in the context of the“ postmodern.” By examining the works of Linda Hutcheon and Mario J. Valdés, we can discuss the topic from the perspective of Typology and Hermeneutics. Besides, Margaret A. Rose’s Genealogy Study can help us to reconsider its contemporary meaning with perspective of etymology. On the other hand, both types of parodic writing collected in this book not only reflect the“critical interpretation” idea of Eco, but also offer a table for the idea to mediate the disagreements in the theories of Hutcheon and Valdés by the Semiotics and Reader Reception. In the meanwhile, the two kinds of parodic writing also enlighten the readers on the different phases of interpretative process for expecting them to become the“critical interpreter.” In this sense,“parody” is not just a phenomenon of writing as a literary technique, but an avant-garde creative writing practice in the field of Semiotics, as well as a means of historical reading with a critical intention in the process of interpretive activities.
- Umberto Eco,
- Misreadings,
- parody,
- critical interpretation,
- context of Postmodern

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References(39)

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