How did Eco approach cultural analysis?
My method involved treating cultural phenomena—whether a medieval manuscript, a comic strip, or a conspiracy theory—as intricate systems of signs. I would meticulously examine these 'texts,' tracing their semiotic threads through history and philosophy. By juxtaposing seemingly disparate elements, I aimed to reveal the underlying structures of meaning and how they shape our understanding of the world. It was about decoding the grammar of culture.
Ask Umberto Eco the follow-up →