In "The Preparation of the Novel," a collection of lectures
delivered at a defining moment in Roland Barthes's career (and
completed just weeks before his death), the critic spoke of his
struggle to discover a different way of writing and a new approach
to life. "The Neutral" preceded this work, containing Barthes's
challenge to the classic oppositions of Western thought and his
effort to establish new pathways of meaning. "How to Live Together"
predates both of these achievements, a series of lectures exploring
solitude and the degree of contact necessary for individuals to
exist and create at their own pace. A distinct project that sets
the tone for his subsequent lectures, "How to Live Together" is a
key introduction to Barthes's pedagogical methods and critical
worldview.
In this work, Barthes focuses on the concept of "idiorrhythmy,"
a productive form of living together in which one recognizes and
respects the individual rhythms of the other. He explores this
phenomenon through five texts that represent different living
spaces and their associated ways of life: ?mile Zola's
"Pot-Bouille," set in a Parisian apartment building; Thomas Mann's
"The Magic Mountain," which takes place in a sanatorium; Andr?
Gide's "La S?questr?e de Poitiers," based on the true story of a
woman confined to her bedroom; Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe,"
about a castaway on a remote island; and Pallidius's "Lausiac
History," detailing the ascetic lives of the desert fathers.
As with his previous lecture books, "How to Live Together"
exemplifies Barthes's singular approach to teaching, in which he
invites his audience to investigate with him -- or for him -- and
wholly incorporates his listeners into his discoveries. Rich with
playful observations and suggestive prose, "How to Live Together"
orients English-speaking readers to the full power of Barthes's
intellectual adventures.
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