Cultural Mythologies

Media Cultures NEWM1001

Week 10 - 22 September 2009

Myth

‘Ancient or not, mythology can only have an historical foundation, for myth is a type of speech chosen by history: it cannot possibly evolve from the ‘nature of things … Speech of this kind is a message … It can consist of modes of writing or of representations … photography, cinema, reporting, sport, shows, publicity …’ (Barthes, ‘Myth To-day’, 2000:110)

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Semiotics and Interpretation

Ferdinand Sassure’s structure of language:• Signified object is ‘denoted’ by a Signifier(an actual tree) (the word ‘tree’ or in

another language …?)

• The combination of the Signified + the Signifier = SIGN(the object) + (the word)

This combination, this SIGN, ‘connotes’ many different meanings, and depending on how many of these we are familiar with, we interpret the sign’s meanings

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

A second level of interpretation

• At the level of connotation and myth, this sign becomes a new signifier. The new signified are all the stories that can be interpreted and linked to the image, and the new sign is the ‘myth’.

i.e. Sign (1) + Signified (2) = SIGN (2)word+ thing stories myth

referred to

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

‘Reading’ Images

• DenotationThe literal meaning of an image, the content what we can

see and name as we look at the image. Our description of what the image depicts in a ‘commonsense’ way. What is ‘signified’.

• ConnotationWider fields of meaning that can be drawn from the image.

The broader semantic field. All the possible interpretations that different people can read into an image – all the different stories it can tell. What the ‘sign’ has to say.

So let’s look again now at Barthes’ definition of ‘myth’…

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Myth

‘Ancient or not, mythology can only have an historical foundation, for myth is a type of speech chosen by history: it cannot possibly evolve from the ‘nature of things … Speech of this kind is a message … It can consist of modes of writing or of representations … photography, cinema, reporting, sport, shows, publicity …’ (Barthes, ‘Myth To-day’, 2000:110)

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Denotation – Connotation - Myth

Denotation• What is signifier? What is

in the picture?• What does it refer to?

Connotation• Broader interpretation

Myth• What is the ‘wider,

cultural message or theme?’ (Hall 1997:40)

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

What stories are here? Is there a myth?

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Does it differ here? Or is it part of the same one?

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Another kind of toy story

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

What myths does this image key into?

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

• Myth as a type of speech, communication, that has been ‘chosen by history’

Barthes,110

• Likewise, societies choose what becomes history – we choose our myths

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Myths are often Open Secrets

• Eg. “wine” and “milk”

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

In terms of Foucault’s sense of ‘discourse’ and power:

1. Secrecy can serve to hide the mechanisms of the ways in which a particular discourse makes it easy to manipulate power.

2. Secrecy can also create ‘cracks’ in power systems where people can exercise some freedom in and gain some protection from the power wielded within a particular discourse.

3. Secrecy happens because it is to someone’s advantage if a story remains hidden.

4. Secrecy often has to do with shame or taboo.

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Other Myths?

• ANZAC

• Princess Mary – Crown Princess of Denmark

• New Media

• Commonsense

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes

Angels How many myths, or is it just a really big one

embracing many beliefs and practices?

Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes