Introduction - Will Rea - Myth Today Roland Barthes

Myth Today

Defining Myth

  • Myth as a Type of Speech

    • Etymological basis for defining myth: it is described as a 'type of speech'.

    • Communication System: Myth serves as a communication system or a message rather than an object, concept, or idea. It is a mode of signification and does not rely on the substance of the message.

Characteristics of Myth

  • Form rather than Substance:

    • Myth is characterized by the way it conveys a message rather than the object it refers to; therefore, all objects can potentially be mythic based on how they are presented in discourse.

    • Cultural Appropriation of Objects: Similar to how the expression of a tree changes when viewed through a literary lens (e.g., it gains social usage and meaning), reflecting society’s appropriations and values.

  • Historical Nature of Mythology:

    • Myths are not eternal or purely nature-driven; they derive from human history and are selected by history itself, influencing the birth and death of mythical language.

Modes of Mythical Speech

  • Myth comprises not only oral speech but extends to modes of writing and representation, including photography, cinema, journalism, theater, and advertising. All forms can serve as viable materials for mythical speech, emphasizing that any processed material can be endowed with signifying functions.

  • Semiological Perspective: Myth operates under semiology, which studies signs and significations devoid of their specific content. Different academic fields (e.g., psychoanalysis, structuralism) engage with values instead of mere facts, thereby necessitating a semiological approach.

Semiological Systems

  • Signifier and Signified:

    • Saussure’s framework is applied here, where every semiological analysis involves three interrelated components: the signifier (the physical form), the signified (the concept), and the sign (the correlation between the two).

    • Examples:

    • Roses signify passion, but examining their signification leads to understanding their deeper cultural connections.

  • Myth as Second-Order Semiological System:

    • Myths utilize a pre-existing semiological chain to create new meanings, effectively using established symbols (the first-order signs) as mere signifiers in a new context.

Functions of Myth

  • Dual Role of Mythical Signification:

    • Myths imply a relationship that signifies both intention and factual elements, capable of influencing and redirecting potential interpretations.

    • The signified remains laden with cultural history and socio-political underpinnings, which play a crucial role in how myths are constructed and understood.

  • Signification as Myth Itself:

    • Myth is a dual system of meaning where the intention behind a sign is transformed, often obscured by its literal presence. This leads to the naturalization of socio-political contexts (e.g. how a saluting Negro in a French uniform represents French imperiality) without needing to unveil the underlying motivations.

Reading and Deciphering Myth

  • Types of Readings:

    1. Empty Signifier Focus: Identifies a clear relationship where concept fills the meaning without obfuscations, leading to straight interpretations of myths as symbolic.

    2. Full Signifier Focus: Seeking the distortion between meaning and form unravels myths' duplicitous motivations, revealing them as instruments of broader ideologies.

    3. Holistic Focus: Engaging with the signifier as an intertwined whole leads to a deeper understanding of myths, recognizing their role as intricately woven into the fabric of reality.

Historical Context in Myth

  • Diachronic Studies of Myths:

    • One can analyze myths either retroactively, understanding their evolution, or proactively, exploring their current manifestations within society.

Ethical Implications of Myth

  • Myth as Stolen Language:

    • The capacity of myth to interject itself within various forms of language indicates its invasive nature, making it a tool for transformation as it alters original meanings into broad overtures of ideological content.

  • Balancing Act:

    • The tension between the necessity of forms providing meaning and the risk of being confined or emptied of original significance underscores the need for critical engagement with America's chimerical narratives.

Conclusion

  • Constant Evolution and Interpretation:

    • Myth is a dynamic structure grounded in historical and social realities, encouraging continual reinterpretation through semiotic engagement.