Roland Barthes

by Stafford, Andy

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Title Statements

Full title :Roland Barthes / Andy Stafford.

Summary

Roland Barthes (1915-1980) is one of France's most important writers and theorists of the second half of the twentieth century. His volumes of essays have been translated into many languages. His work is hugely influential in the fields of semiotics, structuralism and numerous areas of the humanities. Yet Barthes' career, hampered by illness in early adulthood, was beset by a large number of false starts. After the Second World War, he started a career in the French Diplomatic Corps, tried to become a sociologist and lexicologist and worked briefly as a popular theatre activist; he was also a keen amateur musician, painter, reluctant Marxist, dilettante philosopher and editor. Yet none of these activities defines Barthes; even his academic career was highly unorthodox and he has not always been taken seriously. So how do we classify him? Andy Stafford offers a clear-sighted, readable account of Barthes' work and life. While he argues that Barthes may best be categorised as a journalist, essayist and critic, he emphasizes the social preoccupations in Barthes' writing: how Barthes continually analysed the self and society. In doing so, Stafford also provides a fascinating account of the intellectual scene of post-war France. This cogent introduction to a vital figure will interest students and specialists alike.

Edition Statements

Publication Date:©2015

Publication Statements

Publisher(s):Reaktion books
Place of Publication:London
Language:eng
Publication Date:©2015

The Physical Object

Description:191 pages : : illustrations ; : 20 cm.

Edition Identifiers

ISBN:9781780234953, 1780234953
oclc:ocn905380340
LC Classification:P85.B33
Dewey Decimal:801/.95092

War orphan -- Tubard -- Marxism, popular theatre and the new novel -- From semiology to structuralism -- May '68 -- From the École to the collège -- Fame, death and the 'Aristocratic' self -- Conclusion : 'Barthes is not a Barthesian.'

Subjects

18.25 French literature Authors, French Authors, French -- Biography. -- 20th c… Barthes, Roland Biografi Biographies Écrivains français -- Biographies. -- 2… France Kritiker -- Frankrike Linguistes -- Biographies. -- France Linguists Linguists -- Biography. -- France Philosophie