[Glice]

I actually have the Death of an Author in my lap as we speak.

And, while I kind of share your reservations, I think the more important skill in Humanities Undergraduates is to be able to assimilate and explain their ideas. I once thought I'd come up with a peerless criticism of Adorno; in retrospect, I was just a jumped-up twat. The problem is that the immediate temptation is to be a giant-killer, but that comes later - or, more likely, not at all, seeing as most academics never seriously confront the people to whom they are opposed. Get your lecturers down the pub, then see how they feel...

Also, Barthes is beyond criticism. People fall in love with him. It's like slagging off the Beatles - no matter how strongly you feel, just keep your trap shut.

Edit: to Lurker.