The Signs of James Bond

Semiotic Explorations in the World of 007

This book is an analysis of the most significant elements that compose the “Bond formula,” such as names, binary oppositions and narrative patterns. It tackles Ian Fleming’s novels as well as the 22 films of the Eon Productions series and follows the evolution of certain determining features (paradigms) from the text to the screen, to determine their function within the narration. This study reveals how the James Bond universe goes well beyond mere spy adventures to become a genre in itself as well as, now, a standard cultural reference. The book also shows that the underlying ideology of the James Bond narration is not as conservative as it might appear, for it promotes ideals of the Enlightenment period such as secularity, pragmatism and the common good.