2 Between the Lines: How to Read a Cultural Text

Texts and Contexts

The literary world is vast and varied, filled with abundant tales from around the globe, and engaging with these works critically requires an understanding that texts encompass more than just words. Literature carries implicit messages and underlying meanings that we refer to as contexts. Contextual factors influence the creation of literary works and how we interpret them. Understanding the context gives you a more complete picture of what’s going on in the narrative and provides insights into societal norms and situations that shape the author’s perspective. In this reading, we will discuss two crucial contexts to consider: the historical context and the cultural context.

The historical context refers to the broad circumstances surrounding a particular event or time. It includes political, economic, social, and technological factors that influence the conditions in which the characters live and that they interact with in a specific place and time. The historical context provides the framework necessary for understanding the motivations, actions, and outcomes of the story. For instance, in the Nigerian novel Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, it is essential that the reader understand a bit about the background of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) in order to better grasp the dynamics that shape the characters and the plot.

Similarly, the cultural context is like the setting of a story, but instead of being about a physical place or time, it’s about the shared values, beliefs, social norms, and experiences of a group of people. The cultural context gives you additional insight into why people think or act the way they do in a story, based off the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of a particular community. For example, in the novel Of Mice and Men (1962), author John Steinbeck’s depiction of cultural norms and power dynamics can help readers to better understand the challenges and injustices experienced by the characters as they struggle with widespread poverty, racial tensions, and social inequalities inherent in the story.

It is important to remember that both cultural and historical contexts are essential for understanding the meaning and significance of literary works and can help us to draw parallels between the issues represented in the novel with those we face today (ESCALA Educational Services).

Navigating High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

With this in mind, understanding the contexts for a work of literature is the first step in understanding that text’s larger themes. The reader’s ability to make inferences and interpretations becomes particularly significant when the concepts that authors embed in their writing may not be explicitly conveyed to audiences. Communication, written or spoken, relies on implied meanings, shared understandings, and knowledge of the language and how it is used within a community. While readers may be familiar with the norms in their own culture, they may not be familiar with the norms in others.

In particular, high-context cultures, which are dominant in regions like Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, emphasize implied meanings over stated information, and rely on subtle cues, shared context, and non-verbal signals to convey meaning. In high-context cultures, it’s essential to read between the lines, where the underlying context provides insights critical to understanding. For example, a well-known literary work from a high-context culture is One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien Años de Soledad) by Gabriel García Márquez (1967). Set in Colombia, the novel explores the complexities of Columbian culture, history, and societal norms through a series of magical and realistic elements that draw heavily from folklore, political history, and family tradition. García Márquez incorporates indigenous myths, symbolism, and colloquial expressions that may not be immediately apparent without an awareness of the cultural context, where storytelling norms, like magical realism, might blur the line between everyday life with the supernatural. In this example, readers from low-context cultures may not fully understand the significance and symbolism within the story.

Now, contrast this with low-context cultures, typical of Western societies like the U.S., Germany, and England, where writing is characterized by explicitness and directness, which reduces the need for shared cultural references to decode meaning (ESCALA Educational Services). An example of a literary work from a low-context culture is George Orwell’s 1984. In this dystopian novel set in a totalitarian society, Orwell critiques authoritarianism, censorship, and surveillance by drawing on his own experiences within the socio-political context of mid-20th-century Europe. The novel depends on universal cautionary themes, driven by fears surrounding individual freedoms, privacy, and opposition to oppressive governments. While cultural context certainly influenced the text, the motivations of the characters are more broadly applicable to readers from various cultural backgrounds.

In addition to uncovering the cultural context in which a text is set, it can be helpful to examine an author’s writing style to uncover further insights. The storytelling choices an author makes in terms of structure, tone, and narrative style are often shaped by the cultural norms and literary traditions of their background. For example, “Americans place great value on words as conveyers of fact while Chinese put more emphasis on action. For Chinese, the truth is in the action, not necessarily the words” (Mustofa and Hill 111). Therefore, uncovering the influences embedded in an author’s choice of language can be essential for a comprehensive understanding of the text, as meaning may be tied to the writing style, connecting the cultural background of the author with the storytelling process. As readers, we can take away a greater appreciation for the literature we read when we consider the cultural context as a lens through which we perceive the work.

Reading Respectfully

Understanding the concept of high-context and low-context cultures can provide us with insights about how we should approach a text. This process involves not only being aware of potential biases within a text, but also examining your own preconceptions that may influence your thinking and interpretation. Below is a guided reading process, adapted from scholars Ali Mustofa and Jonnie Lynn Hill, to help you approach a text critically and respectfully:

1. Understand the Contexts

As you have seen, every piece of literature is shaped by the contexts in which it was created. Therefore, before jumping into a text, it’s good practice to take some time to research the culture, history, and socio-political influences that played a part in shaping it. In addition to digital research, one strategy that may be helpful is to conduct a parallel reading, which involves exploring multiple texts from the same historical period or culture alongside the main text you are studying. This approach could help you to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the cultural contexts that influence the literature.

2. Identify the Author’s Background and Biases

In addition, understanding the author’s background can provide a clearer perspective on their work. It’s not just about the narrative but also about what influences are behind it, such as their cultural, educational, and political beliefs, their literary influences, their personal relationships, etc. Every writer has a perspective, and it is important to identify and challenge claims they make within their work.

3. Recognize Rhetorical Traditions

It’s also important to note that different cultures have storytelling strategies that may differ from Western conventions. A narrative’s structure and style could vary between low-context conventions and high-context conventions, where meanings are implied, metaphors might convey unfamiliar cultural significances, and the narrative structure may adopt a cyclical (rather than linear) format. These rhetorical elements are important factors in helping you read, analyze, and interpret a text.

4. Engage with the Text Actively

Additionally, annotating the text will help you participate in an ongoing conversation with the text. As you read, make note of explicit and implicit cultural references and rhetorical strategies used by the author, including literal and figurative elements; consider how these elements carry specific cultural meanings and significances. Analyze dialogues between characters to uncover societal structures, power dynamics, and other factors that influence their behavior. Question whose voices might be missing from the narrative and why. If there are cultural or literary elements in the text that you need to research further, write them down.

5. Take Time to Reflect

After annotating the text, step back and reflect. What patterns, themes, and connections did you identify in your annotations? How do these elements influence character motivations, plot developments, or larger themes? Reflection provides an opportunity to engage in introspection regarding your personal biases, particularly as you apply a cultural lens to your analysis. How does your cultural background influence your perception of the work? Are there instances where your personal biases may have played a role in shaping your thoughts and interpretations of the text? How could you read the text with greater cultural sensitivity?

Conclusion

Understanding the cultural and historical contexts is essential for uncovering the deeper meanings of a text. This recognition will not only strengthen your analytical skills but also will encourage a more open-minded and critical approach to literary analysis. It’s important to remember that each text reflects a unique context of time and place. And as responsible readers, it is important to recognize and understand how complex influences shape these narratives.

Works Cited 

ESCALA Educational Services. “2.1. How Important is the Cultural or Historical Context to the Production and Reception of a Text?” In “Section 2 Time and Space” of Participant Curriculum Workbook for THE ESCALA Certificate in College Teaching & Learning in Hispanic Serving Institutions. ESCALA Publications, Nov. 2020,  https://dougslangandlit.blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/how-important-is-cultural-or-historical-context-to-the-production-and-reception-of-a-text.pdf

Mustofa, Ali, and Jonnie Lynn Hill. “Understanding Cultural Context in Responding to Literature: Researching the Teaching of Literature in EFL Classroom Context.” English Language Teaching, vol. 11, no. 6, Jan. 2018, pp. 108–14. http://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v11n6p108