Layer III

Layer III is, on the first level of approximation, situated outside the work. In the compositional process, it is the original experience, problem, etc. experienced by the author which becomes represented—according to this model—in the work of art. In reception, layer III is the interpretation created by a reader. Generally, it is supposed that the original experience of the biographical author is irrecoverable from the text and that interpretation differs among readers.

The generation of layer III might be optional at least in the sense of formulating a conscious and verbalised (thus necessarily abstracted) interpretation of an artwork. See theme.