As Akhil had great success with his [question](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/1291/a-learning-roadmap-for-algebraic-geometry), I'm going to ask one in a similar vein. So representation theory has kind of an intimidating feel to it for an outsider. Say someone is familiar with algebraic geometry enough to care about things like G-bundles, and wants to talk about vector bundles with structure group G, and so needs to know representation theory, but wants to do it as geometrically as possible.


So, in addition to the algebraic geometry, lets assume some familiarity with representations of finite groups (particularly symmetric groups) going forward. What path should be taken to learn some serious representation theory?



A learning roadmap for Representation Theory
I second the suggestion of Fulton and Harris. It's a funny book, and definitely you want to keep going after you finish it, but it's a good introduction to the basic ideas.


You specifically might be happier reading a book on algebraic groups.


While I third the suggestion of Ginzburg and Chriss, I wouldn't call it a "second course." Maybe if what you really wanted to do was serious, Russian-style geometric representation theory, but otherwise you might want to try something a little less focused, like Knapp's "Lie Groups Beyond an Introduction."


If you want Langlandsy stuff, then Ginzburg and Chriss is actually a bit of a tangent; good enrichment, but not directly what you want, since it skips over all the good stuff with D-modules. Look in the background reading for the graduate student seminar we're having in Boston this year: <http://www.math.harvard.edu/~gaitsgde/grad_2009/>


