Dickman/Interpretation, Introduction. What is the Meaning of a Text?

Interpretation appears to be ubiquitous. Are we ever not interpreting? From disagreements over the US constitution to divergent perspectives about our favorite songs and movies to opposing views about sacred texts. At the same time, people use “interpretation” pejoratively, to claim that someone else’s perspective is merely an interpretation whereas their own perspective is an accurate picture of reality. This introduction forges parameters for a useful notion of interpretation focused on written texts but can be a skill transferable by analogy to other things besides texts.