"...In many situations, however, it is extremely important that we search for the author's meaning because of serious negative consequences that will come if we misunderstand or intentionally ignore the meaning the author intended. For example, one of the most common literary texts in America is the big word STOP painted on the red octagonal signs at many street intersections across the country. If you choose to, you can follow a reader response approach and interpret the text to mean: 'slow down just a bit, look for cars, and then speed on through the intersection.' The police, however, believe strongly in authorial intent for the determination of meaning, so they will respond to your interpretation with a traffic ticket and a fine."
Lol.
So it seems that our culture is not as postmodern in its practice as it is in its thinking. That's somewhat encouraging…
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