réinterprétation

Réinterprétation denotes the act of reinterpreting something—such as a text, artwork, performance, data set, or historical event—by applying new context, evidence, or theoretical frameworks that yield alternative meanings or significance. The process often arises when existing interpretations appear insufficient to account for new information, perspectives, or cultural concerns. The term is formed from the French prefix ré- (again) and interprétation (interpretation).

In practice, réinterprétation is widely used in arts and humanities: readers and critics reread novels or poems through modern lenses (feminist, postcolonial, queer theory); in music, artists reframe or resituate a composition through new arrangements or performances; in film and media, past works are reinterpreted via remakes, reboots, or deconstructions. In historiography and the sciences, data or sources may be reinterpreted in light of new methods, dating evidence, or theoretical models, leading to revision of established narratives.

Methodologically, réinterprétation relies on hermeneutics, contextualization, and critique of assumptions. It should be transparent about evidence and criteria for shifts in meaning, and it often involves dialogue with the original work and its reception. Critics warn that excessive or anachronistic réinterprétation risks presentism or oversimplification; strong interpretations require solid justification and, where possible, corroboration by new data or comparative analysis.

See also: Interpretation; Reinterpretation; Recontextualization; Adaptation; Revisionism; Hermeneutics.