History
Versus (or VS, as is often known) is one of the first and best-known international journals of Semiotics, Philosophy and Theory of Language. It was founded in 1971 by Umberto Eco, who has been the director of the journal until his death in February 2016. Versus is currently directed by Patrizia Violi.
Its aim is to publish contributions of the high possible level, in theoretical and applied semiotics, which advance the development and progress of the field.
It is a semiannual journal and issues are often dedicated to specific themes, addressed from different points of view and with an open approach to other disciplines.
Versus has for nearly forty years been a significant landmark for Italian semioticians and other scholars around the world.
The name derives from the term vs, used in structural linguistics and semiotics, to signify the opposition forming the basis of any semiotic system (for example voiceless vs voiced), and reflects well the cultural debate of those early years. Over time the journal and the semiotic debate in general have also been opened up to other schools and disciplines.
Since 1971 over 85 issues and more than 600 articles have been published in Versus. The journal has published contributions from over 400 authors, including - to name just a few names from the international arena - Roman Jakobson, Algirdas J. Greimas, Paul Grice, John Searle, Felix Guattari, Jaakko Hintikka, Ray Jackendoff, Philip N. Johnson-Laird, George Lakoff, Luis Prieto.
Today you can access all available information on this precious scientific heritage thanks to the on-line archive of the journal. The table of contents of all volumes, keyword information, and comprehensive materials concerning the most recent articles are all available on the archive website.
Starting with issue number 106 (January-April 2008) Versus has adopted a system of double blind peer review. This signifies that Versus is determined to continue its tradition of pursuing quality and scientific rigor.