Interrogating the text from the wrong perspective

In September 2004, Anne Rice posted a response on Amazon to critics of her then-new Blood Canticle, in which she rejected all negative reviews and stated that there could be only one "correct" interpretation of the text.
She said that readers with criticisms had "negative voices," that they were "interrogating this text from the wrong perspective," that they "have used this site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehood and lies," and that she had "fought a great battle to achieve a status where I did not have to put up with editors making demands on me, and I will never relinquish that status.'" "From the Author to the Some of the Negative Voices Here" full text copy, accessed 2010-11-23
Many fans found Rice's response intemperate, rude, and condescending. The incident produced amusing Amazon replies, professional author and editor commentary, and much fandom discussion, including a Fandom Wank postfictionbya.
 To quote rhiannonhero from LJ: "Anne Rice wouldn't last a day in fandom, yo.", post in fandom_wank, 2004-09-20. which led to seven pages of comments and a number of icons. 
One line in particular stood out—"interrogating this text from the wrong perspective". That line became the favorite catchphrase interrogating the text from the wrong perspective, used ironically by fans to mock someone, either the original author of the text using authorial intent to trump what actually appears on the page, or another reader who assumes that there can be only one "correct" interpretation of the text. The text (fanfic or published writing) in question is usually problematic or badly written, and the mocked individual may be the lone defender.Interrogating the text from the wrong perspective. Fandom Wank Wiki. (Accessed 24 November 2010)A July 31, 2012 Google search for the phrase gave 15,400 results.
In a non-Rice context, "interrogating a text" is a method of critical reading that can help a reader to better understand the author's purpose. 
 
For a similar 2006 post by Laurell K. Hamilton, see Dear Negative Reader.
For additional context, see Timeline of Concrit & Feedback Meta.
==The Text==
Fandom Wank posted: "Amazon.com seems to have deleted the Anne Obrien Rice review (and the crop of reviews that came after it). Fortunately, some things which are posted on the internet have a way of being preserved forever." also posted in full in many other places on the internet
One fan called it "a paragraph that never ends." To quote rhiannonhero from LJ: "Anne Rice wouldn't last a day in fandom, yo.", page 1, WebCite September 20, 2004 
==Fan Reaction==
===Inspired Fanworks===
* interrogating the text from the wrong perspective, a Homestuck metaish fic by Vintar, December 30, 2012
===Further Reading: Fans Regarding "Interrogating the text from the wrong perspective"===
* To quote rhiannonhero from LJ: "Anne Rice wouldn't last a day in fandom, yo.", page 1, WebCite, page 2; WebCite, page 3; WebCite, page 4; WebCite, page 5; WebCite, page 6; WebCite, page 7; WebCite, September 20, 2004
* The People Have Spoken. Those Patience-Trying, Filth-Slinging Whores, page 1; WebCite, , October 12, 2004
* Decoupaging the text from the wrong perspective?, page 1; WebCite, page 2; WebCite, April 28, 2013
===Further Reading: Fan Reviews===
* current reviews at Amazon of Blood Canticle
* current reviews at Goodreads of Blood Canticle
* , Amazon forum, includes comments by Anne Rice, 2013
* , by Kayleigh Herbertson, April 25, 2013 (the original post)
* Anne Rice's Facebook post about "Punishing Pandora", Anne Rice writes: "Comments most welcome," includes over 800 replies, April 23, 2013 
* Amazon reviewers are interrogating Anne Rice's Dickensean principles from the wrong perspective!, March 2014
===Further Reading: Industry and Journalism===
* , by Neil Gaiman, September 22, 2004
* The Anne Rice Problem, Adam Lipkin, October 2004
* , Sarah Lyall, New York Times, October 11, 2004
* , by Sarah Lyall, October 14, New York Times
* , by Dana Huff at blogcritics, November 4, 2004
* , by Ceilidh, March 10, 2014 at Bibliodaze
* , by Aja Romano, March 11, 2013 for The Daily Dot
==References==
Category:2018 Featured Articles
Category:Scandals
Category:Social Media Feature-Wank WednesdayCategory:Anne Rice