Foucault's "What Is an Author?"

Foucault's "What Is an Author?" questions the traditional idea of the author as the sole creator and authority behind a work. Instead, he suggests that the concept of an author functions as a way to categorize, regulate, and interpret texts within society. The author name is a label used to establish meaning, ownership, and limits on readings, but it doesn’t necessarily reveal the true origins or intentions of a work. Foucault emphasizes that literature and ideas are part of a network of discourse that extends beyond individual creators, challenging the idea of authorship as absolute.