Barthes Text Versus Work

What is text? What is work? I don't know.
It's not letters and jobs according to Barthes.

TEXT is something like:

it overturns classical traditions.
it defies classification.
it is a methadological field.
it is the demonstrated real
it is an experience in reaction to the sign
it is the infinite deferment of the signified, a deferment that offers play.
it is radically symbolic
it is plural. Barthes equates this to a stroll he took, where he could half recognize all the sounds around him, but the combination of sounds were unique. Maybe he was trying to equate this unique product as the text.
it resists a reduction to a mimesis for the consumer.
it asks you to complete the piece rather than give expression to it.
it is visited by the author as a guest
it is a "network"
it requires abolition of the distance between writing and reading (practice and consumption)

Whereas the WORK is:
the seen reality
the fragment of substance, occupying a part of the space of books.
the tail to the body of text.
the hand-holdable (vs. held in language)
the thing that closes on a signified (vs. reaction to the sign)
the thing that functions as a general sign
the "oraganism" (vs. the network)
the object of consumption (vs. decanting of the work to gather as play)




EXAMPLE OF TEXT:
(Requirements met: decanting the work and gathering up as play, overturning classical tradition, defying classification, infinite deferment of signified, symbolic, requiring you to complete the piece)


















- an assemblage by Joseph Cornell







EXAMPLE OF WORK:
(Requirements met: classifiable, traditional, seen reality, experience closing on the sign, not radically symbolic, general sign, object of consumption)





















- a photograph by Burtynsky