LLI Cultural Studies I

Tarantino Mara Beln

Source Base n 2
Bibliography:
Barthes, R. Mythologies (2004) in Rivkin, J. and Ryan, M. (Ed). Literary theory: An
Anthology. (pp. 81-89). Maiden, USA. Blackwell Publishing.

Main idea: A myth is a semiological system which stems from another system, it implies
ideas and concepts which are taken as natural but have a specific intention.

Summary:
Barthes begins by establishing that the myth is a construction with the same pattern found
in Saussures semiotics: signifier, signified and sign. The myth is created from an existing
semiological chain, that is, that there is a signifier and a signified composing a sign, and
that sign becomes the signifier for another chain and so on. The author explains that
mythical speech has materials such as language itself, photography, painting, and others.
And regardless of how different they may appear, they are treated in the same way as they
are all a sum of signs.
The author distinguishes two semiological systems within the myth: a linguistic system,
which he calls language object, because myth gets hold of it, and the myth which he calls
metalanguage, because it is a second language referring to the first. Afterwards, he presents
two examples of mythical speech: one of a grammatical example from a book, and another
one, a picture of a French soldier saluting. He analyses both can be seen as greater
semiological systems composed by other semiological systems.
Later, Barthes establishes specific terms to differentiate the elements from the two systems,
the first one and the one which stems from it, the myth. On the plane of language, he calls
the signifier meaning and on the plane of myth, he calls it form. In both he refers to the
signified as concept. As for the sign, it retains that name for the plane of language and it is
called signification in myth.
Finally, four myths are presented: the Romans in films, Soap Powders and Detergents, The
Blue Guide and The Great Family of Man. I will focus on the first one as I found it clearer.
Barthes analyses how Hollywood films show the way in which western society thinks of
Romans, he reflects on the presence of certain signs that make up a whole Roman myth.
The fringe, the nocturnal plait and sweat (as an indicator of moral feelings), are signs that
give people the idea of Romans, that idea is not stated anywhere in the film, but it is rather
a natural connection people make, an association they are not aware of.
Concepts:
Mythical speech: the language in which the myth is constructed, it can be anything that
conveys meaning: shows, films, pictures, advertisements, posters, etc. In the chapter
analysed, there is an example of a picture of a French soldier giving the French salute. Even
though the purpose of the people who organized and took decisions regarding the picture

was to create a sort of propaganda against detractors of colonialism, it ends up representing

the very presence of imperialism (in the myth).
Language object: it is the first language system from which the myth stems, that is, for
example, the French soldier saluting the flag (the signifier: soldier saluting, the signified:
patriotism). That would be the first system to which the myth of French imperialism is
connected.
Semiological chain: that is a series of systems that are connected, a system such as the one
of the French soldier stems another system which is the myth.
Perceptions on reading the material:
I found the material very interesting and could relate it to the song we worked with,
Californication, and the myth of Hollywood as a fake dream factory, the wheel of fame that
crashes artists. (I hope my interpretation was right)