The Literary Theory: Semiotics, Roland Barthes and Mythologies
By Dr. Maya Joshi
“Myth is depoliticised speech.”
~Roland Barthes
On 23rd September 2021, Jabberwock hosted a session on Semiotics, Roland Barthes and Mythologies as a part of its The Literary Theory Series. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Maya Joshi and was largely attended by the students of the English Department.
Prof. Joshi began the lecture by presenting a PPT on semiotics and Barthes and briefed the students about the life of Roland Barthes and his sardonic looks. She then explained the semiological significance of the covers of the various editions of Barthes’ Mythologies and how they represent the French bourgeois culture. She then contrasted Barthes’ meaning of mythology with that of Edith Hamilton by conveying how Barthes’ myths are beyond stories and are present all around us.
Prof. Joshi then placed Barthes as a linguist who deals with language to examine culture. To make things easier for the students to understand, she gave examples of what the Maruti 800 represented and meant for the people when it was launched. She then mentioned the 1995 edition of the magazine, Paris Match and placed it in the context of semiotics. The cover of the magazine Prof. Joshi said, legitimized the myth of French imperialism in Algeria. She also articulated the Marxist influence on Barthes.
Prof. Joshi talked about how one can find echoes of Barthes in Foucault’s ideas. She then referred to certain sections of Mythologies like Myth Today, Toys, Plastic, Novels and Children, Photography and Electoral Appeal, and so on and also shared Barthes’ understanding of these things. Drawing parallels between the cover of the Paris Match and Photography and Electoral Appeal, she explained how subliminal messages are passed through photographs that appeal to the emotions, rather than the reason.
The lecture ended with Prof. Joshi addressing the queries of the students and sharing further readings on Barthes.
~Roland Barthes
On 23rd September 2021, Jabberwock hosted a session on Semiotics, Roland Barthes and Mythologies as a part of its The Literary Theory Series. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Maya Joshi and was largely attended by the students of the English Department.
Prof. Joshi began the lecture by presenting a PPT on semiotics and Barthes and briefed the students about the life of Roland Barthes and his sardonic looks. She then explained the semiological significance of the covers of the various editions of Barthes’ Mythologies and how they represent the French bourgeois culture. She then contrasted Barthes’ meaning of mythology with that of Edith Hamilton by conveying how Barthes’ myths are beyond stories and are present all around us.
Prof. Joshi then placed Barthes as a linguist who deals with language to examine culture. To make things easier for the students to understand, she gave examples of what the Maruti 800 represented and meant for the people when it was launched. She then mentioned the 1995 edition of the magazine, Paris Match and placed it in the context of semiotics. The cover of the magazine Prof. Joshi said, legitimized the myth of French imperialism in Algeria. She also articulated the Marxist influence on Barthes.
Prof. Joshi talked about how one can find echoes of Barthes in Foucault’s ideas. She then referred to certain sections of Mythologies like Myth Today, Toys, Plastic, Novels and Children, Photography and Electoral Appeal, and so on and also shared Barthes’ understanding of these things. Drawing parallels between the cover of the Paris Match and Photography and Electoral Appeal, she explained how subliminal messages are passed through photographs that appeal to the emotions, rather than the reason.
The lecture ended with Prof. Joshi addressing the queries of the students and sharing further readings on Barthes.
Written by Purbali Paul