Barthes: A Very Short Introduction

I picked this book somewhat randomly after finishing a "Very Short Introduction" about Wittgenstein. Being intrigued by the description of the material and the seeming profound insights Barthes brought forth, I bought the book. I had never heard of Roland Barthes.What a lucky find! Not just the book, but Barthes, and Semiotics in particular. This little book was my first taste of Literary Theory, Semiotics, and started me down a path of the most interesting thought. Culler writes so well and expresses ideas so clearly that lay readers, as I was at the time I read this, should have no trouble. I've read other work by Culler since, and it is all some of the finest writing and exposition to be found. (I'm currently off on a Linguisitic Anthropology tangent, but it is still related to the path began here.)I would have never known a Roland Barthes even existed had I not read this great little book.

Organizing this overview by utilizing the conceit that Barthes was an intellectual of varied--often paradoxical--parts, Jonathan Culler breaks down his analysis of Barthes by devoting a chapter to each of these parts, one after another. The result is to make clear what might otherwise have seemed a hopeless muddle of the many reversals, contradictions, and theoretical leap-frogging that Barthes engaged in during a long career of dodging easy characterization. Yet in spite of the elementary a-b-c format, there is enough meat on this bare-bones outline of Barthes body of work to satisfy the beginner and leave him with an appetite for more. A good little guide with which to familiarize yourself with this seminal semiologist, structuralist, post structuralist, hedonist, et al.

There is always room for improvement.

I thought I would never really get to grips with Barthes but with the help of this book I am able to read him

Good intro to Roland Barthes, ideal for students of different disciplines.

Good clear review of Barthes major contributions to social and cultural theory

Found this book very helpful. I am doing an MA in Eng Lit and it has been over 13 years since my BA so this formed a great reminder for me.

good quality prompt service!

Fast delivery, perfect book.

Lots of useful anecdotes on the nature of academic literature.

The observations were too superficial. I. expected more from Culler. It was a disappointment, to be frank.