Roland Barthes Information

Synopsis

Born on November 12, 1915, in Cherbourg, France, French literary philosopher Roland Barthes was educated at the Sorbonne, and went on to help establish structuralism as one of the leading intellectual movements of the 20th century. His work made important advances in the areas of semiotics, anthropology and post-structuralism. Barthes died in Paris in 1980.

Early Life

Roland Gérard Barthes was born on November 12, 1915, in Cherbourg, France. When Barthes was an infant, his father was killed in a marine battle. Shortly after, his mother, Henriette Barthes, moved the family to Bayonne, where Roland spent most of his early childhood. In 1924, the Bartheses moved to Paris, where Roland first studied at the Lycée Montagne. From 1930 to 1934, he was enrolled at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Barthes's prominent grandfather was a famous explorer and colonial administrator. Though his grandparents were wealthy, food often lacked in his home; his grandparents refused to help them after Barthes's mother bore an illegitimate child. His mother then worked as a bookbinder to make ends meet. In the late 1930s and early '40s, Barthes continued his education at the Sorbonne, focusing on classical letters, grammar, philology and Greek tragedy. During this time, he fell ill to tuberculosis, spending time in sanatoriums during the occupation (from 1934 to 1935, and from 1942 to 1946).

Career and Sucess

Roland Barthes taught at many schools, including in Biarritz, Bayonne and Paris (1939-46), as well as at the French Institute in Bucharest (1948-49), the University of Alexandria in Egypt (1949-50) and the Directorate General of Cultural Affairs, 1950-52. He then worked in research at National Centre for Scientific Research, 1952-59, later moving into a directorship of studies position at the Practical School of Higher Studies; 1960-76. Barthes came stateside to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (1967-68), and went on to act as chair of the literary semiology at the College of France, 1976-80. Barthes wrote several books over his teaching career, including Writing Degree Zero (1953), Criticism and Truth (1966) and S/Z (1970), which analyzed the fiction of Honoré de Balzac's Sarrasine. Barthes became known as a leading critic of his period with his 1977 book, A Lover's Discourse, which sold more than 60,000 copies in his native country. The book was translated into other languages to reach audiences throughout Europe and in America. Barthes's works influenced structuralism, semiotics and anthropology. An influential thinker, Barthes delved into complex theoretical concepts and was skilled as an interpreter. He questioned how much one could understand the written word in relation to speech, stating in Image-Music-Text (1977): "For writing can tell the truth on language, but not the truth on the real... ." Influenced by his mother's death, in October 1977—an event that left him devastated—Barthes wrote his final book, La Chambre Claire (Camera Lucida), discussing photography as a mean of communication, in 1980. (Barthes and his mother had lived together for nearly 60 years prior to her death. Barthes found that there were particular codes in media depending on what society in which a media text is shown, he believed In a theory called the death of the author; Barthes displayed how he thought everyone should have their own interpretation of a film, he disliked how directors or screenplay writers would come out after the film had been shown for a while and give their own interpretation, he hated how they would deter any other interpretation except their own, on the other hand Barthes enjoyed how once the media text was out in the open the author becomes almost none existent because everybody interprets a film or text differently. For example in “Pulp Fiction” Quentin Tarantino leaves what is inside the mysterious briefcase to the viewer’s imagination, he came out after the film and said, it can be whatever the viewers want it to be.

Personal Life

Barthes fell ill during his young adult years, which, along with the realization that he was homosexual, affected his self-esteem. He was able to make close friendships, including with famed psychologist and writer Julia Kristeva, of whom he once reportedly said, "She's the only person I'm really in love with, the only woman who could make me change my sexuality." Friends noted Barthes's loyalty, thoughtfulness and inability to say "no" to requests. They also praised his rich voice (Barthes enjoyed music and even took singing lessons). Succumbing to injuries that he'd sustained after being hit by a vehicle weeks earlier, Roland Barthes died in Paris on March 25, 1980, at the age of 64.

Examples Of Semantics and Codes

Katana

Katana

Historically katana were one of the traditionally made Japanese Swords that were used in feudal Japan, also commonly referred to as a "samurai sword." The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. It has historically been associated with the samurai of feudal Japan. It is closely linked with respect of Japanese warriors, by loosing your katana you loose your right as a warrior this warriors right and respect is shown in the recent film 47 Ronin , however in western countries it is a symbol of death, it is seen as a sword or a mass killing mechanism, they were feared during the second world war as the Japanese fought well with strength and cut through soldiers with ease.

Communist Russian Flag

The communist Russian flag was a symbol of hatred for people on the western front however to the Russians of that time it was a sign of power and still is today, the flag resembles the strength and courage of the Russians despite some of their inhumane methods. The Russians are cunning and tactical as they played a major part in the first and second world wars. If it was not for the greed of Hitler in his lust for world domination, Britain may be a different place right now.  http://www.biography.com/people/roland-barthes-36995 - Information sourced from