Product Description

This acclaimed short study, originally published in 1983, and now thoroughly updated, elucidates the varied theoretical contributions of Roland Barthes (1915-80), the 'incomparable enlivener of the literary mind' whose lifelong fascination was with the way people make their world intelligible. He has a multi-faceted claim to fame: to some he is the structuralist who outlined a 'science of literature', and the most prominent promoter of semiology; to others he stands not for science but pleasure, espousing a theory of literature which gives the reader a creative role. This book describes the many projects, which Barthes explored and which helped to change the way we think about a range of cultural phenomena - from literature, fashion, wrestling, and advertising to notions of the self, of history, and of nature.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #147493 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 152 pages

About the Author
Jonathan Culler is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Cornell University and a leading figure in the world of literary theory. Praised by Frank Kermode for his 'remarkable expository skills', his publications include seminal works on deconstruction and semiology as well as studies of individual authors. HisVSI Literary Theory is the series bestseller with sales of 40,000 copies to date.

Customer Reviews

Friendly and insightful introduction
Bruce Lincoln's analysis of Allstar wrestling had me interested in Barthes - and Culler's introduction has enticed me even further into Barthes multifarious oevre. Culler divides his introduction according to the thematics of Barthes' works - as he says, Barthes is a man of parts - literary historian, mythologist, critic, polemicist, semiologist, structuralist, hedonist etc.
I am glad to have read an introduction that appreciates the many aspects of Barthes' writing. Culler has me well prepared before reading Barthes himself.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is thinking of studying Barthes.