reference of "as"
Do you read the second part of the sentence below like:

1. but exemplifies the structural interplay between meaning and non-sense (offered by the dream-work) as a model of symbolic distortion

or

2. but exemplifies the structural interplay between meaning and non-sense (offered by the dream-work as a model of symbolic distortion) ?

Sentence:
This will be the most historical chapter, referring to nineteenth-century Symbolist painter Odilon Redon, whose work predates Freud but exemplifies the structural interplay between meaning and non-sense offered by the dream-work as a model of symbolic distortion (Art and Psychoanalysis by Maria Walsh).

Question

reference of "as"
Do you read the second part of the sentence below like:

1. but exemplifies the structural interplay between meaning and non-sense (offered by the dream-work) as a model of symbolic distortion

or

2. but exemplifies the structural interplay between meaning and non-sense (offered by the dream-work as a model of symbolic distortion) ?

Sentence:
This will be the most historical chapter, referring to nineteenth-century Symbolist painter Odilon Redon, whose work predates Freud but exemplifies the structural interplay between meaning and non-sense offered by the dream-work as a model of symbolic distortion (Art and Psychoanalysis by Maria Walsh).

Answer

Definitely not the first. Your 2nd interpretation is correct.

Answer

Jim, non-sense is intentionally hyphenated. The intended meaning isn't 'nonsense'.

Answer

I like the first sentence, but I would use commas and not parentheses to offset "offered by the dream-work." People tend to ignore items in parentheses and are less likely to do so if you use commas. Also, nonsense isn't hyphenated.

Answers · 5

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