Writing Degree Zero & Elements of Semiology

by Roland Barthes, Susan Sontag

Semiology is the science of signs and symbols, and their role in culture and society. Writing Degree Zero is Barthes' introduction to his field of study, the basic definitions required in the analysis of speech, language, writing and style, delivered with a poet's insight from one of France's most famous literary critics .

In Elements of Semiology Barthes presented a concise scientific definition of Saussurean linguistics and their aftermath. Published in 1967, this is a key text in the study of 'structuralism', which at that time was a relatively new critical movement rapidly gaining an international following.

Genres: Nonfiction

111 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Roland Barthes of France applied semiology, the study of signs and symbols, to literary and social criticism.

Ideas of Roland Gérard Barthes, a theorist, philosopher, and linguist, explored a diverse range of fields. He influenced the development of schools of theory, including design, anthropology, and poststructuralism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_...

Reviews

[Caspar "moved to storygraph" Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting & well-written, but loses its bite somewhat with the knowledge that Derrida exploded a great deal of this only a few years later.

WDZ is insightful, and beautifully written - it's very Barthesian. I think with the disadvantage of hindsight it's most effective to read this as ideas worth pondering - the essay on writing as crafted is one such. But not necessarily grounded truths.

EoS is a more technical, dryer work, but an accomplished overview of 20th century linguistics/semiology nonetheless. If you've never read literary theory, start with Barthes.

[marce 𝒢𑄺 · Rating 3 out of 5]

lo tengo que volver a leer, pero se sintió lindo consumir algo de mi carrera

[Ned · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing Degree Zero is a remarkable and passionate challenge to established conceptions of language and literature(circa-1953 of course). It manages to mount a defense (and a vague articulation) of what would become structuralism and Barthes does so in crystal clear, inspired prose with sharp intellect and insight. His argument about 'signs' is illuminated in the helpful and linear evaluation of Semiology that follows.