Nealon defines subjectivity as “the opposite of objectivity.” We use objectivity to reference facts. Facts are not left up to interpretation but read in hard terms of true or false. Subjectivity, however, is the influence of one’s “self” and the culture that defines “self” on one’s interpretation of a given material.
One’s “self” or individuality is affected by culture. For instance, race is a defining feature not based on hard facts, but based on the perception of the members of a culture. There is not difference between a black man and a white man on a purely genetical level, but we, as a culture, have assigned certain connotations to each. White men can’t jump. Then why are all of Russia’s track and field Olympians white men? These kind of claims attributed to race are often easily debunked through analysis, but they are viewed by many in the public to be somewhat true and thus have an impact on how races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, and many more segments of culture are viewed.
Similarly, when reading a piece of prose or poetry, one’s own individuality influences how the piece is perceived because of the unstated pressure culture has on a person. When reading a novel, the interpretation one has of the characters and plot of the novel is guided by the reader’s self. If the reader is used to a certain protocol in social interaction and is exposed to a radically different method, then the reader will have a different interpretation than someone who has a similar model as presented in the book.
Self, influenced by culture, influences one’s interpretation.
