Structuralism and Since: From Lévi-Strauss to Derrida

If you asked me to explain what structuralism is, I'm afraid I would be unable to provide an answer. Hopefully, this isn't proof of my deficiencies as a reader, but rather the success of this book in showing how difficult it is to grasp what structuralism is, let alone what thoughts these structuralists, or at least these thinkers who are considered to be structuralists, share. STRUCTURALISM AND SINCE is a collection of five essays, one each on Claude Levi-Strauss, Roland Barthes, Michel Foucault, Jacques Lacan, and Jacques Derrida. Each of these men focuses on different things and their approaches too are quite varied. Yet some uniting strands seem to exist, most notably their debt to the linguistics of Saussure.Though the book doesn't define or explain structuralism per se (it doesn't claim to either), the essayists provide fascinating discussions on each structuralist and their ideas. The introduction is particularly helpful in drawing out some common themes and providing useful background. If you are unfamiliar with and interested in these five very influential thinkers, this is a good place to discover their ideas.

Structuralism was a popular means of studying literature in the early and mid twentieth century, eclipsed larged by deconstruction. As a method, however, structuralism seems far more serious and articulate than its successor.This is the best overview of structuralism ever. I initially found it in the library, and after reading it thoroughly, determined it was a book necessary for my own library. I found it compelling on a number of fronts, from figurative fiction to solipsistic fiction, and on most other fronts as well.Sadly, most English departments have "moved on" to deconstruction, having abandoned structuralism to the dust heap of analysis. All the work of de Saussure, Barthes, and others have simply been deposed. Still, there's more merit in this one book than all the books written on deconstruction.The reader is asked to examine texts in a peculiar way that serves both atemporality as well as temporality. The reader is shown ways to "structuralize" texts so that they may reveal yet further meaning. It's a valuable lesson, the life of which has sadly been dethroned of late.