Signs And Mythologies - The Significance Of Roland Barthes

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Andrew Hussey

20151123

20170508 (R3)

The philosopher and critic Roland Barthes still has one of those French names which all too often can provoke anger, confusion and even fear amongst the English-speakers', suggests cultural historian and broadcaster Andrew Hussey.

Across the week five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the influence the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. Over the week they create a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and is still deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. A powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers.

An eclectic group of essayists celebrate the range of influence his writing has had. Andrew Hussey examines Barthes' impact in Europe in the 1960s. Other essayists over the week include design historian Penny Sparke, film journalist Nick James and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood.

Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique.

Cultural historian Andrew Hussey examines Roland Barthes's impact in Europe in the 1960s.

Nick James

20151124

20170509 (R3)

The impact that the maverick critic, philosopher and semiologist Roland Barthes has had on those who write about films and on many who make them is significant. The film writer and arts journalist Nick James gives a personal response to his work.

Barthes was a powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. Across the series five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the influence this extraordinary literary figure has had up. They create a picture of an author and essayist whose writing was fun, accessible and deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking reflected the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism.

Other essayists over the week include cultural historian and broadcaster Andrew Hussey, design historian Penny Sparke and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood.

Writer Nick James assesses the impact Roland Barthes still has on the way we look at film.

Penny Sparke

20151125

20170510 (R3)

The eminent design historian Penny Sparke (author of 'The Modern Interior' and 'As Long As It's Pink') cites Roland Barthes as a factor in her decision to work in the field of design. She assesses his influence on her thinking throughout her career.

Barthes was a powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. In this series five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the effect the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. They create a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism.

Other essayists over the week include broadcaster and cultural historian Andrew Hussey, film journalist Nick James and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood.

Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique.

Design historian Penny Sparke charts the influence Barthes has had on her career.

Andrew Gallix

20151126

20170511 (R3)

An encounter as a teenager with Roland Barthes and an orange moped inspired the magazine editor Andrew Gallix, who now teaches at the Sorbonne, with a fascination for the ideas of the great French theorist. In this week of essays celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth, Andrew reflects on what Barthes meant by 'The Death of the Author'.

Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique.

Magazine editor Andrew Gallix reflects on what Barthes meant by 'the death of the author'.

Michael Wood

20151127

20170512 (R3)

The historian and broadcaster Michael Wood concludes this series of essays celebrating the 20th-century French philosopher Roland Barthes by trying to define him. Semiologist, existentialist, writer on art, design, thought, popular culture, photography, film - even Barthes himself was decidedly inconsistent in his attempts to define himself.

Across the week five authors have been writing about Barthes' significance to them and discussing the effect the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. Over the week they've created a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and deeply influential on the way we look at the world. So how should we think of him? Or does he defy categorisation? Barthes' literary output was eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. A powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers.

An eclectic group of essayists celebrate the range and breadth of his writing. Other essayists over the week include broadcaster and design historian Penny Sparke, film journalist Nick James and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood.

Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique.

Michael Wood tries to define Roland Barthes, who redefined himself throughout his career.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Andrew Hussey	20151123	20170508 (R3)	The philosopher and critic Roland Barthes still has one of those French names which all too often can provoke anger, confusion and even fear amongst the English-speakers', suggests cultural historian and broadcaster Andrew Hussey. Across the week five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the influence the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. Over the week they create a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and is still deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. A powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. An eclectic group of essayists celebrate the range of influence his writing has had. Andrew Hussey examines Barthes' impact in Europe in the 1960s. Other essayists over the week include design historian Penny Sparke, film journalist Nick James and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique. Cultural historian Andrew Hussey examines Roland Barthes's impact in Europe in the 1960s.
02	Nick James	20151124	20170509 (R3)	The impact that the maverick critic, philosopher and semiologist Roland Barthes has had on those who write about films and on many who make them is significant. The film writer and arts journalist Nick James gives a personal response to his work. Barthes was a powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. Across the series five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the influence this extraordinary literary figure has had up. They create a picture of an author and essayist whose writing was fun, accessible and deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking reflected the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. Other essayists over the week include cultural historian and broadcaster Andrew Hussey, design historian Penny Sparke and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. Writer Nick James assesses the impact Roland Barthes still has on the way we look at film.
03	Penny Sparke	20151125	20170510 (R3)	The eminent design historian Penny Sparke (author of 'The Modern Interior' and 'As Long As It's Pink') cites Roland Barthes as a factor in her decision to work in the field of design. She assesses his influence on her thinking throughout her career. Barthes was a powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. In this series five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the effect the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. They create a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. Other essayists over the week include broadcaster and cultural historian Andrew Hussey, film journalist Nick James and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique. Design historian Penny Sparke charts the influence Barthes has had on her career.
04	Andrew Gallix	20151126	20170511 (R3)	An encounter as a teenager with Roland Barthes and an orange moped inspired the magazine editor Andrew Gallix, who now teaches at the Sorbonne, with a fascination for the ideas of the great French theorist. In this week of essays celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth, Andrew reflects on what Barthes meant by 'The Death of the Author'. Across the week five authors write about Barthes' significance to them and discuss the influence the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. Over the week they create a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and is still deeply influential on the way we look at the world. Barthes's literary output was not only prolific, but also eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. A powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. An eclectic group of essayists celebrate the range of influence his writing has had. Andrew Hussey examines Barthes' impact in Europe in the 1960s. Other essayists over the week include design historian Penny Sparke, film journalist Nick James, the editor of 3 A.M. Magazine and teacher at the Sorbonne in Paris, Andrew Gallix, and cultural historian Michael Wood. Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique. Magazine editor Andrew Gallix reflects on what Barthes meant by 'the death of the author'.
05	Michael Wood	20151127	20170512 (R3)	The historian and broadcaster Michael Wood concludes this series of essays celebrating the 20th-century French philosopher Roland Barthes by trying to define him. Semiologist, existentialist, writer on art, design, thought, popular culture, photography, film - even Barthes himself was decidedly inconsistent in his attempts to define himself. Across the week five authors have been writing about Barthes' significance to them and discussing the effect the maverick cultural philosopher has had upon their own work. Over the week they've created a picture of a literary figure whose writing was fun, accessible and deeply influential on the way we look at the world. So how should we think of him? Or does he defy categorisation? Barthes' literary output was eclectic. During the course of his life his thinking influenced the development of theories of structuralism, semiotics, social theory, design, anthropology and post structuralism. A powerful blast of fresh air in post war cultural thought, his carefully argued, accessible and sometimes mischievous examinations of philosophical, cultural and social ideas continue to influence contemporary writers and thinkers. An eclectic group of essayists celebrate the range and breadth of his writing. Other essayists over the week include broadcaster and design historian Penny Sparke, film journalist Nick James and historian and broadcaster Michael Wood. Producer: Frank Stirling at Unique. Michael Wood tries to define Roland Barthes, who redefined himself throughout his career.