AS Communication and Culture Myth & Ideology

Reading Images 

 Been practicing analysing texts using a variety of frameworks such as Representation , Denotation , and Connotations , Signifiers and Signified , Mode of Address , Conventions , Audience and Barriers.

Myth and Ideology

In order to come to a more detailed and sophisticated understanding of a text, it is often useful to think about Roland Barthes' concepts of Myth and Ideology.

Myth 

Barthes' concept of myth refers to a belief or assumption held by a group of people. Sometimes this assumption is supported by some evidence, but the term 'myth' draws attention to the fact that the idea is not necessarily 'true'. It is closely linked to the concept of Stereotypes and convention. For Example; the idea of the 'dumb blonde' or the 'racist policeman', the assumption that if you work hard you can be whoever you want to be, or the belief in the convention of marriage.

Ideology

Barthes' Concept of Ideology refers to the beliefs or assumptions which become accepted by the majority as true, even becoming adopted into the laws of society. Some examples might include the age of sexual consent, patriotism,lending money for profit, white supremacy, and men being more important than women. As you can see, these ideologies are open to change. This leads to the idea that ideologies can be 'emerging', 'dominant' or 'residual'.