I. Interpretive theories center on the ways in which
    people understand their experience.
 
 

II. Interpretive theories are based on meaning:
    Language is the vehicle of meaning.
 
 

III. Interpretive theories have much in common with
    interactional/conventional theories.
 
 

I. Phenomenology & hermeneutics.

    A. Phenomenology

        1. Defined
 
 
 
 

        2. Assumptions
 
 
 
 
 
 

        3. Classical, social and hermeneutic

            a) Classical phenomenology & Husserl
 
 

                * how we know things
 
 
 
 

                * natural attitude
 
 
 
 

                * bracketing distractions
 
 
 
 

                * phenomenological reduction
 
 
 
 

                * transcendental reduction/ transcendental ego
 
 
 
 

                * Example from text
 
 
 
 

                * Essence & limitations of approach
 
 
 
 
 
 

            b) Social phenomenology & Merleau-Ponty

                * Experience is social
 
 
 
 
 
 

                * Meaning is temporary and can change
 
 
 

                * Reduction of experience to meaning of the object
                    as reflected in language of the subject
 
 
 

                * Reduction to the essence is impossible.
 

                * Example from text
 
 
 
 
 

            c) Hermeneutic phenomenology

                * Truth cannot be reached via reduction.
 
 
 

                * Reality is known by natural experience.
 
 
 
 
 

                * Texts
 
 
 
 
 
 

                * Texts outlive their originators and change in meaning
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

            d) Interactionism vs. interpretivism
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    B. Hermeneutics

         1. Defined
 
 
 
 

        2. Origins & traditions
 
 
 
 

        3. Common technique of interpretation: the
            hermeneutic circle.
 
 
 
 

        4. Textual hermeneutics & Ricoeur

            a) Speech is ephemeral .
 
 
 
 
 
 

            b) Texts have an enduring life of their own
 
 
 
 
 
 

            c) Distantiation
 
 
 
 
 

            d) Hermeneutic circle = explanation & understanding
 
 
 
 
 

            e) Appropriation
 
 
 
 
 
 

        5. Cultural hermeneutics

            a) Defined
 
 
 
 

            b) Ethnography & thick description
 
 
 
 

            c) Hermeneutic circle = experience-near concepts;
                                                      experience distant concepts
 
 
 
 

            d) Ethnography of communication

II. Exercise: Conquergood article discussion.