Myth Today & MythologiesMyth Today & Mythologies

Roland BarthesRoland Barthes

1915-1918

Writing Degree Zero 1953

Mythologies 1957

Camera Lucida 1980

1915-1918

Writing Degree Zero 1953

Mythologies 1957

Camera Lucida 1980

Roland BarthesRoland Barthes

The production of myth

The production of myth

signifier signified

signsignified

signifier

sign

salutepatriotis

m

denotative sign mythic conceptmythic form

connotative sign - myth of French empire

QuickTime™ and aCinepak decompressorare needed to see this picture.

blackness crime

“denotation”mythic concept

mythic form

myth: liberals are soft on crimemyth: liberals are soft on crime

mythic formmythic concept

“denotation”

blackness crime

Barthes understands bourgeois myths to conform generally to seven key figures

These figures can be used as heuristics to interrogate cultural artifacts

Barthes understands bourgeois myths to conform generally to seven key figures

These figures can be used as heuristics to interrogate cultural artifacts

Mythical rhetoricMythical rhetoric

Neither/Norism: “Liberals or Conservatives: what’s the difference?”; the lose-lose proposition--leads to political cynicism

The quantification of quality: the market determines all value

Neither/Norism: “Liberals or Conservatives: what’s the difference?”; the lose-lose proposition--leads to political cynicism

The quantification of quality: the market determines all value

Myth on the “right”: rhetorical figures typical of bourgeois ideology

Myth on the “right”: rhetorical figures typical of bourgeois ideology

The statement of fact: common sense; truisms; things are no more complex than they seem

The statement of fact: common sense; truisms; things are no more complex than they seem

“Caesar fringe” on Marlon Brando

“...it is both reprehensible and deceitful to confuse the sign with what is signified.”

see “The Romans in Film”

“Caesar fringe” on Marlon Brando

“...it is both reprehensible and deceitful to confuse the sign with what is signified.”

see “The Romans in Film”

Tautology: “because I said so”; “boys will be boys”; “I know it when I see it”; “just do it”Tautology: “because I said so”; “boys will be boys”; “I know it when I see it”; “just do it”

“The accidental failure of language is magically identified with what one decides is a natural resistance of the object” (166).

“The accidental failure of language is magically identified with what one decides is a natural resistance of the object” (166).

Identification: otherness must be reduced to samenessIdentification: otherness must be reduced to sameness

The Family of Man ExhibitMuseum of Modern Art 1955

There is only one man in the worldand his name is All Men.

There is only one woman in the worldand her name is All Women.

There is only one child in the worldand the child's name is All Children.

--Carl Sandburg at theentryway to the exhibit

The Family of Man ExhibitMuseum of Modern Art 1955

There is only one man in the worldand his name is All Men.

There is only one woman in the worldand her name is All Women.

There is only one child in the worldand the child's name is All Children.

--Carl Sandburg at theentryway to the exhibit

The inoculation: “True freedom includes the freedom to fail.”The inoculation: “True freedom includes the freedom to fail.”

Charity warns of homelessness risk

Charity warns of homelessness risk

“...admitting the accidental evil of a class-bound institution the better to conceal its principle evil” (164)

“...admitting the accidental evil of a class-bound institution the better to conceal its principle evil” (164)

The privation of history: we know of no time when things were not as they are now

The privation of history: we know of no time when things were not as they are now

“All one has to do is possess these beautiful new objects from which all soiling trace of origin or choice has been removed” (165).

“All one has to do is possess these beautiful new objects from which all soiling trace of origin or choice has been removed” (165).

Markers, Metasigns, and StylesMarkers, Metasigns, and Styles

Markedness is opposed to unmarkedness.It means that a given form is distinguishable from another on the basis of a special semiotic feature.A marked form, in other words, is simply one that stands out from the rest.Unmarked forms tend to be transparent--that is, you don’t notice them; they seem natural.Unmarked forms are the “default” position.

Markedness is opposed to unmarkedness.It means that a given form is distinguishable from another on the basis of a special semiotic feature.A marked form, in other words, is simply one that stands out from the rest.Unmarked forms tend to be transparent--that is, you don’t notice them; they seem natural.Unmarked forms are the “default” position.

Broad sets of markers that identify the same social group are called “metasigns.” They are frequently

empty of referential content; they are used to create solidarity among those so marked and distance from those who aren’t. (“Style,” “accent,” and “grammar”

all refer to the same phenomenon.)

Broad sets of markers that identify the same social group are called “metasigns.” They are frequently

empty of referential content; they are used to create solidarity among those so marked and distance from those who aren’t. (“Style,” “accent,” and “grammar”

all refer to the same phenomenon.)