Heywood is dead; I killed him. A semiological approach to critical scholarly editing
Date
2025
Authors
Seaberg, Samuel
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
Critical scholarly editors have traditionally followed the "copy-text" method in establishing new texts of a work; predicating them on the pursuit of "authorial intent". When applied to critical scholarly editing, the semiological work of Barthes pokes holes in the safety net of "authorial intent", leaving editors in a freefall. This poster proposes new grounds for modern editions of early modern plays: that of the editor's. This alternative approach of "editor's choice" editions offers a newfound freedom to both editor and reader; which the poster explores through the problem posed by multi-text plays. This poster suggests the modern text of early modern plays as a contribution to an ongoing conversation; rather than a cosplay of authorial intention.
Description
Keywords
semiotics, signified, signifier, copy-text, LEMDO, collation