Poststructuralism changes the way we understand the relations between human beings their culture & the world Following a brief account of the historical relationship between structuralism & poststructuralism this Very Short Introduction traces the key arguments that have led poststructuralists to challenge traditional theories of language & culture Whilst the author discusses such well-known figures as Barthes Foucault Derrida & Lacan she also draws pertinent examples from literature art film & popular culture unfolding the postructuralist account of what it means to be a human being ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable