Is There Meaning In This Blog?

Excerpt from Denver Seminary Review: "At the dawn of a new millennium, academics and practitioners from a cross section of disciplines have become increasingly aware of the wide spread changes happening in our world often referred to as "postmodernism". It is in this context of postmodernity that Kevin Vanhoozer seeks to locate his work Is There a Meaning in This Text?

Vanhoozer takes up the formidable task of defending the role of the author in the interpretive task. His goal is unabashedly apologetic in this regard. But to accomplish his goal he must provide a nuanced account of the author that responds to the criticisms of postmodern literary theorists who deny the same. He accomplishes this through a very careful critique of his critics followed by a very nuanced proposal of his own....

Vanhoozer suggests that to the degree that contemporary literary theory's view of an author and of the text is diminished, it corresponds to a diminished view of God. Thus, every interpretive act is also a theological act. He follows that readers are also ethically responsible for their interpretations and for their respect for the "other" (the author & the text). Here Vanhoozer forwards what he calls "interpretive virtues". Borrowing from the categories of faith, hope, & love, he maintains that readers must act virtuously towards the "other" and respect the "other". At this point, the "other" becomes a point of transcendence for Vanhoozer that allows a text to have an ethical and authoritative stance over the reader. It likewise provides a boundary that helps prevent readers from looking into the text and seeing their own reflection.

Vanhoozer's work is one of the more important works to appear in recent hermeneutics discussions. He is not only informed by postmodern literary theory but also draws on the resources of communication studies, theology, ethics, and philosophy to construct a truly interdisciplinary account of the role of the author. Even those whose hermeneutical persuasion may differ need to take seriously this work. Especially commendable is his discussion on the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation. This work is to be commended."