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Umberto Eco’s The Role of the Reader: Explorations in the Semiotics of Texts

Eco's work is deeply rooted in the reader-response theory, which posits that the reader plays an active role in shaping the meaning of a text. This approach challenges the traditional notion of a fixed, authorial meaning, instead arguing that meaning is created through the dynamic interaction between the reader, the text, and the cultural context. Eco's theory emphasizes that the reader is not a passive recipient of information but an active participant in the interpretation process.

The rise of fan fiction is a testament to Eco’s theories. Readers are no longer passive consumers; they are active manipulators of text. They take the "openness" of a universe (like Harry Potter or Star Wars) and create new threads. Eco predicted this kind of textual collaboration, viewing the work as a field of relations rather than a static monument.

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