Study Questions for Michel Foucault, "What Is an Author?"

1. Why is the development of the idea of the "author" related to that of individualization?
   
   
2. How does Foucault characterize contemporary writing?
   Which writers does Foucault cite?
   
   
3. What is the paradox associated with the modern ‘disappearance’ of the author?
   
   
4. What are the significant issues related to authors’ names?
   
   
5. Why does Foucault refer to the "author-function" rather than "author"?
   
   
6. What are the four characteristics of discourse concerning the author-function?
   
   
7. What does Foucault mean by "transdiscursive"?
   Whom does he cite as examples of founders of discursivity?
   
   
8. What is the ideological function of the author?
   Why does he argue that we have represented the author contrary to his real historical function?
   
   
9. What does Foucault speculate with respect to the potential transformation and even disappearance of the author-function?
   
   

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