This provocative book undertakes a new and challenging reading of recent semiotic and structuralist theory, arguing that films, novels, and poems cannot be studied in isolation from their viewers and readers.

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Kaja Silverman is at Simon Fraser University.

"Enters an important field of contemporary critical debate and makes the issues forcefully clear. It makes accessible to the English-reading public the relationships between and among structuralism, semiotics, psychoanalysis, feminism, and post-structuralism."--Gayatri Chakrovorty Spivak, University of Texas, Austin

"Superb text for the topic in a feminist theory class--so lucidly written."--Jeanie K. Forte, University of Tennessee

"Her explanations are lucid and her exemplary analysis of poetry, fiction, and film are profuse and acute."--Robert Scholes, Brown University

"Admirably organized and written. She makes sense out of a great mass of diverse ideas....Not only a fine introduction to contemporary thought, but a positive contribution to it."--Christopher Collins, New York University

"Highly original treatment of great interest. Brings very important and unusual material (especially from French writers) to bear on structuralism, communication, psychoanalysis, [and] anthropology."--Nur Yalman, Harvard University

"Admirably thorough and lucid....Professor Silverman's meticulous unravelling of complexities...puts its case with a vigour and commitment."--Times Literary Supplement

"An excellent and important, even beautifully written book."--American Film

"A lucid and imaginative introduction to advanced semiotic research."--David E. Wellberg, Stanford University