Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes

Is it possible for someone to write aspects of his life story, and be neutral at the same time? That is what Roland Barthes, "1915 1980," tried to do in his book "Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes," and he is the author who made critics find it difficult to classify him, whether to place him within literature or philosophy and criticism? But before we proceed to discuss this book, it is necessary to shed light on Barthes and his importance in the field of literature, for despite the significant philosophical contribution he made, many considered him a symbol of enjoyment and not science; that is, the enjoyment of the reader and his right to read in the way he sees fit. Barthes continued to defend the recipient and give him an active and creative role, and it is no wonder, as he was a proponent of what is called the "death of the author" theory. He was also known for defending traditional classical works in France, while many critics and followers of the "new novel" movement considered them confusing and unsuitable for reading in the modern era. Barthes took an opposite stance when he praised traditional narrative literature, and he went further when he stated that the goals of literature are achieved through works that are unsuitable for reading because they challenge expectations. Barthes belongs to an intellectual and philosophical movement that had a significant presence in France and the world, including figures like Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, Lacan, and others. The book provides insight into a complex personality full of contradictions, and it also serves as an entry point for the reader into Barthes' literary, intellectual, and critical works, which are filled with complex theories and obscure visions. Therefore, when Barthes talks about himself, it clarifies much of the ambiguity and difficulties faced by the recipient in reading those works, many of which are characterized by complexity. The man moved between many fields of knowledge and intellectual and literary theories, from structuralism and beyond. In the book, Barthes depicts images from his human and intellectual life, through pivotal moments that shaped his views and literary and philosophical interests. However, he subjects all these life stages to evaluation; that is, he practices his hobby and profession of criticism towards his journey and the fluctuations he experienced, which may confuse the reader about the type of content he is reading—whether it is mere confessions and autobiography, or a novel in which Barthes plays the role of narrator. Barthes is playing a game in the book, and the reader must discover it. The book is divided into two parts. In the first, the reader finds himself facing a collection of photographs from different stages of Barthes' life, similar to what he did in his famous work "Camera Lucida." But in this book, "Barthes by Barthes," specifically in the section titled "Imaginary Visual," the focus is mainly on childhood and youth, a period Barthes describes as unproductive or non-creative. He directs sharp sarcasm toward that phase of his life. When he was young, he thought that everything he did or reached in terms of ideas and concepts was correct and free from doubt. Barthes subjects these images to deep reflection, as if he is interrogating them or recalling their times, or perhaps dealing with them as if they are strange to him and seeking to rediscover them. He comments on them based on what he imagines about them, not what actually happened, which makes the reader feel a kind of detachment between Barthes and those images. The second part of the book takes the reader to a new and different pleasure, as Barthes also practices criticism, deconstruction, and analysis of his habits and himself. This is not without the sarcasm he is known for. He does the same with his works, the books he read, and the concepts of some thinkers, subjecting them to deep analysis and reflection. What Barthes does in this book is to turn his biography and personality into a sign seeking interpretation by the reader, as he explained by saying: "In this book, I want to be honest and open to interpretation." Therefore, Barthes in this work approaches the reader very closely, granting him the right to read and analyze in the way he sees fit and with the enjoyment he feels.