Umberto Eco and the history of semiotics

Abstract

This article explores Umberto Eco’s crucial role in the institutionalisation of semiotics as an autonomous discipline, analysing his dual role as both historian and champion of the field. Through an examination of three key essays (1977, 1979, 1997), it investigates the ‘hidden history’ of semiotics as a narrative of ostracism, marginalisation and mechanisms of erasure, set against explicit presences. Eco emerges as a ‘gatekeeper’ and catalyst, influenced by figures such as Jakobson and Sebeok, who promoted interdisciplinarity, the introduction of foreign schools of thought in Italy (e.g. Lotman) and semiotic publishing («Versus», Bompiani series). This paper outlines methodological approaches for a history of semiotics that encompasses explicit and implicit theories, semiotic practices, and the concept of the sign as a ‘renvoi’. Marking the tenth anniversary of Eco’s death (2016-2026), the analysis reflects on the discipline’s future prospects, emphasising the need to re-examine his legacy in order to resolve outstanding issues.