Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2014, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (4): 204-210.

• Studies in Western Literary Theory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Application of Referent in Western Marxist Critical Theory and Its Significance

Zhang Bi   

  1. the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Northwest University (Xi'an, 710000, China)
  • Online:2014-07-25 Published:2014-08-28
  • About author:Zhang Bi, Ph.D., is a lecturer in the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Northwest University (Xi'an, 710000, China), with research interests in Western literary theory and Western literature.

Abstract: The application of the semiotic concept of referent in Western Marxist critical theory achieves the purpose of recognizing and analyzing the social reality represented by referents, and it has also made up for the blind areas in the methodology of structuralist semiotics. Furthermore, the application has theoretically bridged the two methodological tradition of Anglo-American and Structuralism semiotics, and it also highlights the referent as an important issue in the study of semiotics, and therefore the application has made significant theoretical contribution to semiotics.

Key words: Western Marxism, critical theory, referent, Anglo-American semiotics, structuralism semiotics