Wolfgang Iser's Bio
All the deets on your favorite critic's personal life.
Basic Information
| Name | Wolfgang Iser |
| Tagline | "Ask not what you can do for the text, but what the text can do for you." |
| Nickname | The Wolfman, Wolfie, I-man |
| Sex | Male |
| Home town | I'm a German through and through: I was born and died there, though I had an interlude at the University of California, Irvine. I was born in Marienberg (a spa town, like with seaweed wraps and salt scrubs), which after World War II came under the control of the Russians. No biggie—I got out of there and went to Leipzig, which was much more happening... though also occupied by Russians. |
Work & Education
| Occupation | I've only worked a few places, but one of my personal favorites was at the University of Glasgow in Scotland—you should see those 15th-century arches! I worked at UG in the 1950s before moving back to Germany to work at the University of Konstanz, where I stayed put for the rest of my life. Sure I had guest lecture appointments and that kind of stuff, but my heart belongs to Konstanz. (I'm actually buried in Konstanz, too, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.) I was pretty much the Big Man on Campus in Konstanz, because I bucked a bunch of the musty old traditions of German education and started a Department of Literaturwissenschaft (Literary Science). That department morphed into what became known as the Constance School, which was dedicated to the study of literary theory and criticism. Starting that school was like lighting a firecracker at a chess tournament. Startling, right? The Constance School helped promote the idea that the reader is central to literature and literary interpretation. No longer would it be acceptable for the author to write a book and toss it at the reader like that's the final say-so. We thought it was time to ask some new questions, like: Hello, reader, what does that book mean to you? Does it rock your world? What's going on in your noodle when you read it? By the way, I don't necessarily care what any given reader thinks; I care more about what an implied, unidentified, ideal reader may be thinking—so you won't find me asking questions on Survey Monkey. |
| Education | I'm like one of those people who can't pick a major, so I ended up studying philosophy and German and English literature. I also studied at several universities, but I finally earned my doctorate at the University of Heidelberg. I wrote my dissertation on The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, a novel that is seriously raw and raunchy (I love it!). I'm almost in a category of my own: how many Germans can say they love Henry Fielding—that experimental, adventure-loving 18th-century English author? My dissertation on Tom Jones allowed me to cut my teeth on theories of reader response and reader participation. To me, the novel is one extended opportunity for the reader to co-create meaning with Fielding. The reader is invited to participate—but more on that exciting opportunity later. |
Beliefs
| Political views | A lot of theorists love to take their theory and get all political with it. Not me. Imagine a graphic image of a reader and a book with arrows going back and forth between the two, sort of like a recycling symbol. That's about as political as I get. Let it be known that I am not Fredric Jameson or Noam Chomsky. Politics is not my scene. Books are aesthetic objects, not covert political manifestos; however, by giving the reader such an important role in the process, you might say I democratized interpretation. Interpretation for the people and by the people, am I right? I grew up in the era of communism and fascism, and I never believed that political parties should dictate how we read books. Heck—the fascists were busy warming themselves with the piles of books they were burning. |
| Religious views | If this were a yes or no question, I would answer no. But because I am committed to promoting the importance of how the reader "receives" a text (by reading it), I am naturally interested in the act of reading the Bible. Allow me to back up for a second and share a little appreciated fact. The history of textual criticism started with the Bible. Interpreting the Bible was—and is—known as "Biblical hermeneutics." Naturally, back then, the priest was the all-knowing one—sort of a conduit of God's word. With all that power and authority, priests could get real bossy, telling people exactly what things meant and not appreciating anyone else's input. When I started to get my game on with Reader Response criticism, I was thinking about this very thing. Getting all bossy about texts is not something that is limited to priests; some professors and literary critics think they are priests with a hotline to God's word. I wanted to give more power to the reader (or believer, in the case of the Bible). So, I may not have religious views, but I did have a few suggestions on how to read scripture differently. |
Activities & Interests
| Likes | Books—of course! Glasgow—an underappreciated town Walter Pater and the whole "art for art's sake" thing Hermeneutics—xox Shakespeare—so infinitely interpretable! The soul of the reader Gaps Anthropology Pickles (Dad worked in a pickle factory) My wife, Lore: what a woman! Tristram Shandy—so naughty! |
| Dislikes | Tyrannical Schools of Interpretation Politicized literature (zzzzz) Being late: I never, ever do it The idea of right and wrong interpretations The Truth, as an oppressive concept Fascism Stanley Fish (Grrr…) Trying to be cutting edge—too much work! The French Continental Attitude Having to always be right—get over yourself! |
| Interests | Book groups, Book TV Approaching random strangers at Barnes and Noble and striking up conversations Going against the grain and not being trendy—you won't find me with a lumberjack beard and Ray-Bans Keeping it simple Questioning the idea that high culture is morally righteous Stargazing Engaging in dynamic reading Being a decent and caring human being Producing book after book Being a gentleman intellectual—why look like Slavoj Žižek? |
| Groups | Reader Response Lovers The Receivers Phenomenology for Every Age Self-Conscious Readers who Feel Good About Themselves Believing in Your Inner Reader The Informalists A Safe Reading Community Interpretation for All! Readers for Readers Get Connected! |