November 12

Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist, philosopher, critic, and semiotician whose interdisciplinary work spanned linguistics, anthropology, and cultural studies. He rose to prominence with his book 'Mythologies', a collection of essays examining the myths embedded within everyday life. Barthes introduced key concepts such as the 'death of the author' and the studium versus punctum in photography, which have become foundational in post-structuralist thought. As a professor at the Collège de France, he influenced generations of scholars with his innovative approaches to textual analysis. His research challenged traditional boundaries between high and popular culture, turning the mundane into a subject of rigorous academic scrutiny. Barthes' legacy endures in the fields of literary criticism, film studies, and media theory, where his insights continue to inform contemporary debates. He remains celebrated for his lucid prose, intellectual curiosity, and ability to reveal the hidden codes of cultural phenomena.