ABSTRACT
A broad understanding of texts widens the field of English education. It also extends how people think about what it means to be literate. Drawing on the idea that "reading and writing are not a thing among themselves but are bound up in and with the social, cultural, political, and economic practices and ideologies of which they are a part", this chapter examines how texts shape and are shaped by the contexts in which they are produced, consumed, and re-produced. It discusses the terms literacy and literature, focusing on how these concepts relate to making meaning with texts. The chapter compares and contrasts the concepts as they are situated in social expectations. It explores the meanings of texts, literacy, and literature from historical and political perspectives. The chapter provides a framework for considering how texts are consumed by readers through various lenses related to various contexts.
