myth today & mythologies roland barthes. 1915-1918 writing degree zero 1953 mythologies 1957...
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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.)