Massenauslegung

Massenauslegung (Mass interpretation) is a German-language term used in theoretical discussions to describe how large audiences interpret texts, statements, or cultural products, often independently of or differently from the author’s or producer’s intended meaning. While not tied to a single discipline, it appears in hermeneutics, theology, media studies, and political theory to distinguish lay or public interpretive acts from expert exegesis or official guidance.

In theology and biblical studies, Massenauslegung refers to lay or congregational interpretation of scripture and liturgical texts. Such interpretations are shaped by local culture, tradition, and experience and can influence devotional practice and doctrinal emphasis, sometimes feeding back into official interpretation.

In media studies and cultural studies, the term is used to describe how mass audiences derive meanings from films, news, platforms, and memes. Public interpretations may align with, resist, or transform producers’ intended messages, contributing to memetic propagation and shifting cultural meanings.

In political and legal contexts, Massenauslegung can describe how public opinion or social movements construct meanings of laws, policies, or constitutional texts, raising questions about legitimacy, accountability, and the democratization of interpretation.

Critics caution that the term is broad and variably used; it is not a precise technical concept in all fields, and its boundaries with reception theory and public interpretation are fluid. Nevertheless, Massenauslegung highlights the social dimension of how meaning is produced and spread.