What Is An Author?
Reading Notes for Teaching Week 7 (250 word limit)
This article argues the function of the author in regards to their work and vice versa. The “death of the author” can only be understood in the context of the time that saw the emergence of an author's popularity, as opposed to the focus on heroes. This follows in the ideas of secular thought and of individualisation. However, by simply writing a work, the author cancels out his individuality, while the writing becomes free to function as a discourse and thus holds power over its author.
The contents of a work also help to define an author or an author's name. It is understandable that the very nature and meaning of the name Shakespeare would be changed if it was discovered he had not written all of his attributed plays, perhaps even adding a subtle bitterness that one considered a master of literature is now considered somewhat of a fraud.
The actual content of an author's work is arguable. What defines a work? Everything that was written, or only published works? And where then fall unfinished notes? It is also argued that to be considered part of an author's work, such writing must be consistent in style. How can this be held true, though, of a fiction author who changes style in order to employ a different genre? What is written must still be considered part of the author's work. (not only written work, but of any author [painter, musician, etc] who employs a different style, even for experimentation purposes, all should really be accepted as part of that “author's” collection of work)
Reading
Rabinow, Paul. (ed.) Foucault Reader. 1984 pp 101-120
although, quite simply I would like to say the answer to the question is "me"
posted by Daebereth at 11:43 pm
1 Comments:
It does bring up some very metaphysical concepts, doesn't it. A deeper truth, if one such thing exists, could be held that the Author is not defined by his writings, but rather defined by the true being he or she is. So often when texts are analysed as such, one must consider the contextual mechanisms that give the text meaning. Ergo, if one were to view any such reading with juxtapositioning of context and text, one is essentially judging a piece of work through the concept of who the Author is.
This reading of an Author is further reinforced in your previous discourse on the mechanisms of "pen names" and the transgressions of Authors who write a biographical text under the pretence that they are someone they are not. In this scenario, an Author who writes such a piece is viewed in a negative manner for their supposed "lying" to their audience. Ergo, we only view the text in light of the context surrounding who the Author is.
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