interessual

Interessual is a term used in some niche discussions of semiotics, media studies, and cultural theory to describe the relationship between a sign or artefact and the interests, sensibilities, or experiential context of an audience. In this sense, interessual analysis asks how the sign's resources—its themes, motifs, style, or rhetoric—are calibrated to attract attention, evoke affect, or guide interpretation given what the audience cares about.

Proponents use interessual analysis to account for why some texts or campaigns resonate with particular groups, while others fail to engage them. It is often invoked in discussions of audience design, branding, and political communication, where alignment with audience interests can influence reception and action. The concept can address both intentional design and emergent interpretation as audiences co-create meaning through their interests.

As a neologism, interessual is constructed from the prefix inter- meaning "between" and a form related to sense or sensibility; different writers may emphasize different derivations, such as "between interests" or "between senses." Because there is no single standard definition, authors typically specify the scope and criteria when using the term.

It is related to, but distinct from, intertextuality (relationship between texts) and intersubjectivity (shared understanding among subjects). In interdisciplinary usage it overlaps with audience studies, reception theory, and persuasive communication.