Biography
Roland Barthes stands as a monumental figure in twentieth-century literary criticism, renowned for his pioneering contributions to semiology. His work spans a multitude of disciplines and ideas, continually pushing boundaries and redefining literary analysis. Barthes's intellectual journey encapsulates a refusal to be constrained by traditional academic norms, always seeking new avenues for exploration.
Formative Years
Born on November 12, 1915, in Cherbourg, Roland Barthes hailed from a comfortable French bourgeois family. Tragedy struck early with his father's death in 1916 during World War I, prompting his mother to support the family with her bookbinding trade. Barthes's exceptional academic promise became evident during his early schooling, suggesting a path toward the prestigious École Normale Supérieure. However, a bout with tuberculosis in 1941 diverted him to the Sorbonne instead. By 1937, his health precluded military service, leading him to teach in Biarritz and Paris until his illness worsened, necessitating a retreat to a Swiss sanatorium during the war. Post-war, Barthes taught in Romania and Egypt, where he deepened his engagement with literary criticism and linguistics, culminating in his first major publication, Writing Degree Zero (1953).
Intellectual Contributions
Barthes's intellectual odyssey was characterized by his unwillingness to be confined to a single discipline or theoretical framework. His work traversed linguistics, semiology, and beyond, consistently opening new investigative pathways. Critics sometimes faulted him for leaving his seminal ideas underdeveloped, but this very trait underscored his appeal during an era of ideological rigidity. Barthes’s scholarship was a catalyst for fresh inquiry, always forward-looking.
In the late 1940s and 1950s, Barthes worked within the French cultural service, focusing on education abroad, while crafting his initial forays into literary criticism. Influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre, Writing Degree Zero offered a Marxist reinterpretation of French literary history, countering Sartre’s What Is Literature?. His association with the journal Tel Quel promoted a formalist approach to literature. Through texts like S/Z (1970), Barthes distinguished between readerly and writerly texts, championing avant-garde literature. He defended innovative writers like Alain Robbe-Grillet, creating critical frameworks for avant-garde discourse.
Evolving Perspectives
Barthes's subsequent works, such as Michelet (1954) and On Racine (1963), marked a shift from Sartrean Marxism to structuralism, viewing literature as systems governed by codes. In Michelet, he employed phenomenological concepts, uncovering existential thematics through antithetical elements like warmth and dryness. On Racine delved into psychoanalysis and structuralism, examining authority and primal conflicts, eschewing conventional historical interpretations for a focus on spatial structures. His unorthodox treatment of French classics drew academic criticism but ultimately solidified his position within academic circles, leading to teaching positions, notably at the École Pratique des Hautes Études.
Explorations in Semiology
In Mythologies (1957), Barthes embraced semiology, scrutinizing the signs and symbols in popular culture and literature. He saw activities like wrestling and striptease not as mere entertainment but as cultural spectacles with coded meanings. The book sought to demystify cultural assumptions, exposing them as constructs rather than natural phenomena. Through a playful yet incisive lens, Barthes juxtaposed seriousness with triviality, inviting readers to rethink their perceptions.
Despite Mythologies' success, Barthes refused to revisit established frameworks. Transitioning to structuralism, he penned significant works like Critical Essays (1964), where he described structuralism as an "activity" utilizing binary oppositions from Saussure’s linguistics. His exhaustive analysis of Balzac's "Sarrasine" in S/Z applied various critical codes, showcasing structuralism's potential while foreshadowing poststructuralism's focus on fragmentation over unity.
Later Works and Legacy
Barthes's later works shifted focus from structuralism to the emotional and sensory experiences of reading. The Pleasure of the Text (1973) explored the various ways readers derive joy from literature, emphasizing personal engagement over comprehensive aesthetic appreciation. Barthes equated...
(This entire section contains 1135 words.)
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textual pleasure with physical and sensual experiences, presenting a more intimate approach to literary engagement.
By the 1970s, Barthes had become a prominent intellectual figure, securing a chair at the Collège de France in 1976. Rejecting traditional academic roles, he continued to prioritize emotion and pleasure in his critiques. A Lover’s Discourse: Fragments (1977) codified the language of love, using literary texts to trace the gestures and maneuvers of affection. His analysis transcended mere intellectualism to capture the emotional nuances of love, resonating deeply with readers.
Barthes's final works, such as his introspective Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes (1975), offered glimpses into his personal reflections, blending autobiography with philosophical musings. This fragmented narrative eschewed conventional storytelling in favor of thematic exploration, revealing Barthes's enduring resistance to "doxa" or established opinion. His lifelong opposition to rigid authority is evident throughout his oeuvre.
Barthes's prolific output continued with studies like Empire of Signs (1970) on Japanese culture, and Camera Lucida (1980), a meditation on photography. His influence extended well beyond France, securing his reputation as a global intellectual force. Tragically, Barthes's life was cut short in 1980 when he was struck by a laundry truck in Paris, ending his dynamic journey at the height of his intellectual prowess.
Conclusion
Roland Barthes was a trailblazer, deftly navigating multiple fields and leaving a lasting impact across various disciplines. His pioneering application of semiology to diverse subjects enriched the humanities, making him a masterful practitioner of linguistic structures. S/Z remains a landmark in structuralist analysis, while his advocacy for post-structuralism highlighted literature's inherent fragmentation. Barthes continually celebrated the emotional depth of literature, challenging static systems of thought. He liberated criticism from its academic confines, paving the way for a rich tapestry of interpretative voices.
Bibliography
Barthes, Roland. Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes. Translated by Richard Howard. New York: Hill & Wang, 1977. A meditation by Barthes on some of the significant events and influences on his life. It is not the usual autobiography, but it is an excellent introduction to the delights and style of Barthes.
Culler, Jonathan. Roland Barthes. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. The best short study of Barthes’s works. Culler divides the protean Barthes into such areas as “Mythologist” and “Hedonist,” which enables the reader to see the range of Barthes’s mind. Contains clear, direct, and insightful discussions.
Lavers, Annette. Roland Barthes: Structuralism and After. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1982. The most detailed study of Barthes’s literary criticism. Lavers discusses not only Barthes’s thought but also critics who influenced and were influenced by him. Scholarly.
Sontag, Susan. “Writing Itself: On Roland Barthes.” In A Barthes Reader. New York: Hill & Wang, 1982. Sontag provides a sympathetic and revealing introduction to Barthes’s thought and an excellent selection of Barthes’s writing. Students who wish to read Barthes might begin here.
Thody, Philip. Roland Barthes: A Conservative Estimate. Atlantic Highlands, N.J.: Humanities Press, 1977. A detailed analysis of the major works and positions of Barthes. It is not as scholarly or difficult as Lavers’ book, but it is a good overall discussion.
Wasserman, George. Roland Barthes. Boston: Twayne, 1981. Part of Twayne’s World Authors series. Begins with a brief biographical section followed by a critical overview of Barthes’s works. Includes a bibliography, a chronology, and an index.
Criticism by Roland Barthes
