An introduction to and commentary on Luis J. Prieto’s “A semiology: Problems and routes”

Abstract

The following notes are a commentary on Luis J. Prieto’s text “A semiology: Problems and routes”, an English translation of “Une sémiologie: problems et parcours”. The notes begin by introducing the different versions under which “A semiology…” was originally published, and then explain some problems faced when working on the English translation. After that, the introduction provides a historical and theoretical contextualization of the original text, focusing on Prieto’s disagreement with Cesare Luporini’s views on (scientific) knowledge from a materialist (Marxist-Leninist) perspective. The notes then move on to Prieto’s own theory and examine the interrelations between knowledge, practice and subjectivity as they are treated in “A semiology…” and in related texts written by Prieto around the same time. Finally, the notes close with a brief observation of how Prieto’s theory could be developed and what its shortcomings are, especially regarding contemporary semiotic theory.