Episode #116 - Structuralism and Mythology Pt. 1
Episode #116 - Structuralism and Mythology Pt. 1
This episode explores how structuralism, especially through Roland Barthes, challenges the idea of the independent self. Instead of shaping the world, we’re shaped by the cultural systems we’re born into. Building on Saussure’s semiotics—the study of signs—Barthes shows how everyday things like media, language, and myths carry layered meanings that subtly shape how we see reality. These myths present cultural ideas as if they’re just “natural” truths. Whether it’s a soap ad or a news broadcast, modern media constantly delivers these hidden stories. Barthes doesn’t suggest we escape mythology—only that we learn to recognize and demystify it, so we can better understand the cultural forces shaping our thoughts and beliefs.
Further Reading:
Mythologies by Roland Barthes (1957)
Elements of Semiology by Roland Barthes (1964)
Course in General Linguistics by Ferdinand de Saussure (1916)
See the full transcript here.
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