Abstract:

Reception aesthetics is a literature theory constructed as a result of coming together some important approaches in reader-oriented theories. It approaches to literature through meaning. Hence, it also connects to the linguistic philosophy. Its most salient feature is to see reader as a central element in meaning/interpretation process. In this context, it highly ignores author and text itself. In this study, we examined Reception Theory with its three significant theorists and their assertions. They are Wolfgang Iser, Hans-Robert Jauss and Stanley Fish. Methodologically at first, we explain their arguments with examples and then, touch on their deficiencies and certain criticisms about them. We reach the result that Reception Theory is inadequate in both defining literature and solving the meaning problem. Yet, we reveal that it brings a revolutionary innovation to the field of linguistic philosophy and literature theory by including reader to the interpretation process.

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