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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
(10 pp) French theorist and social critic, Roland
Barthes (1915 - 1980) took his information from the
areas of sociology, anthropology, psychoanalysis,
and linguistics. He believed that language is more
than just words or texts, but rather a system of
signs, which reflect the society and its given
place in time. This study of "signs" is labeled
semiology. What Barthes means by "The Death of
the Author" is discussed. Bibliography lists 7
sources.
Page Count:
10 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_Bbbarths.doc
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
system of signs, which reflect the society and its given place in time. This study of "signs" is labeled semiology. As a
critic Barthes felt it was his job to decipher and translate those signs. Perhaps an American way to understand this concept would be to make parallels to the "tracker"
of the old West, or the modern search and rescue team looking for a lost child. Each will examine signs as indicators of what has occurred, either by the
depth of the imprint in the earth, or the way grass or branches are snapped or bent. Barthes was a society "tracker" at the most and a "cause and effect"
man at the least. He asked himself, what can we tell about the different societal levels of a group of people, by what they use or what they say?
Background Barthes work Mythologies, translated by Annette Lavers (1970) contains twenty-eight essays written between 1954 and 1956. These works show the formulation of some of Barthes basic ideas.
They are written in an easy journalistic style, covering all areas of culture, this included everything from photographs to toys, to media of the time, to cars and events.
Barthes was addressing "the trivia" of society in a serious way; we would be surprised to see how some of these same themes appear to have relevance to us now,
almost fifty years later. He was curious about the meanings of "things" in our lives. For example what does the choice of a certain car "say" about its
owner. What does a Mercedes generally say about its owner that a Renault does not? Certainly they are both cars; both provide transportation. But one says status,
...