The problem of authorship was one that caused many debates in the literary, intellectual cycles. The concept of author as well as the author’s contribution and effect in a work has been one that changed through time.Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault were both acclaimed thinkers that dealt with the matter of the author, searching in a rather philosophical way the role of the author in the creation, perception and meaning generation of a text. They both gave strong views on the subject of the author in terms of who the author is, what role the author has in the creation of a work and how much of the author’s self is in the work itself.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault: on the subject of the Author
- Introduction: The Author and the Text
- The Author's Death
- What is an Author?
- The Author's Role in Meaning Generation
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the evolving concept of authorship in literary and intellectual discourse, focusing on the contrasting perspectives of Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault. It explores how the author’s role in the creation, perception, and meaning generation of a text has been debated throughout history.
- The author's role in the creation of a work
- The impact of the author's presence on the interpretation of a text
- The relationship between the author, the reader, and the text
- The evolution of the concept of authorship
- The significance of the author's name in the context of cultural discourse
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The Author and the Text: This section provides a historical overview of the changing concept of authorship, from traditional views that emphasized the author's authority to more contemporary perspectives that challenge this notion.
- The Author's Death: This chapter explores Barthes's controversial argument in "The Death of the Author," where he proposes that the author is absent from the text and that the reader should focus on the text itself rather than the author's intention.
- What is an Author?: This chapter examines Foucault's lecture "What is an Author," which seeks to mediate between traditional views of authorship and Barthes's radical position. Foucault argues that while the author's name is significant in terms of classification and ownership, it should not be seen as the sole source of meaning in a text.
- The Author's Role in Meaning Generation: This chapter examines how both Barthes and Foucault grapple with the complex relationship between the author, the reader, and the text. It discusses how the author's presence can influence the reader's interpretation, but ultimately acknowledges that the text possesses an inherent capacity for meaning that transcends the author's intention.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores the concept of authorship, focusing on the key figures of Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault. It examines the evolution of the concept of the author, the author's role in the creation and interpretation of a text, and the significance of the author's name in the context of literary and cultural discourse. Key terms include authorship, text, reader, meaning, interpretation, deconstruction, semiology, structuralism, post-structuralism, and cultural studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Roland Barthes mean by "The Death of the Author"?
Barthes argues that the author's intentions should not limit the meaning of a text; instead, the focus should be on the reader and the text's inherent structure.
How does Michel Foucault's view on authorship differ?
Foucault asks "What is an Author?" and views the author not as a person, but as a "function" that helps classify, own, and organize discourse within a culture.
Why is the author's name significant in literature?
The name serves as a label for a specific body of work and carries cultural authority, affecting how a text is perceived, valued, and interpreted by society.
What is the relationship between the reader and the text?
In post-structuralist thought, the reader is the space where the multiple meanings of a text come together, making the reader's interpretation more vital than the author's original plan.
How has the concept of the author changed over time?
Historically, the author was seen as the ultimate authority and source of truth. Modern thinkers see authorship as a social construct that changes depending on the era and type of text.
- Quote paper
- Elena Agathokleous (Author), 2018, Roland Barthes and Michel Foucault on the subject of the Author, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1007707
