The Mythologist as a Virologist: Barthes’ Myths as Viruses

Abstract

This article is an attempt to explore and explain the complex processes and mechanisms involved in creating myth signs as presented in Roland Barthes’ Mythologies (1957) through an interdisciplinary and an interdiscursive approach. The article presupposes that the mythic system of signification occupies a liminal space of a multiplicity of disciplines and discourses. The mythic sign integrates a myriad of epistemological spaces philosophical, scientific, and cultural. Therefore, this article wants to cross the borderlines between fields of knowledge to understand the unique position of the mythic sign. We are going to use scientific discourse of virology to investigate the parasitic and viral nature of the mythic sign. Moreover, we investigate the role of the mythologist in exploring the signs that are infected by ideology and how to demystify their intentionality and artificiality. Finally, we are going to rely on quantum physics to investigate the superposition of the mythologist and the role this position plays in understanding the ambiguous and multidimensional nature of the mythic sign.

Studi Resepsi Citra Pustakawan dalam Komik One Piece di Kalangan Mahasiswa Ilmu Informasi dan Perpustakaan di Surabaya

“…Barthes berusaha melanjutkan analisis semiotika pemaknaan konotasi pesan melalui dimensi mitos yang terbentuk dari dimensi linguistik. Pemaknaan pesan Saussure berhenti dalam bentuk sign pada dimensi linguistik atau tahap 1 yang dibentuk melalui signifier dan signified dalam dimensi yang sama, kemudian dilanjutkan Barthes untuk mencapai SIGN yang terbentuk melalui sign yang kemudian dianggap sebagai SIGNIFIER yang berlanjut menjadi SIGNIFIED yang berada dalam dimensi mitos untuk pada akhirnya menjelma menjadi bentuk terakhir yang disebut SIGN (Al-Kadi & Alzoubi, 2023) Teori pemaknaan Encoding/Decoding yang dicetuskan oleh Stuart Hall memiliki pembahasan yang meliputi perjalanan sebuah makna dalam bentuk pesan pada sirkuit artikulasi. Perjalanan tersebut dimulai dari momen produksi sebuah pesan, yang mana dalam momen ini produsen konten berusaha menyampaikan pesan dengan acuan berbagai topik, citra pembaca, dan definisi situasi serta kondisi sebuah isu dari banyak sumber dan formasi wacana yang memiliki struktur politik dan sosio-kultural lebih luas.…”

The Functions of Myth in Mangrove Ecotourism Development in Ibu Kota Nusantara, Indonesia

“…There are many countries and ethnic groups that use myths for cultural life, both individually and socially. Al-kadi (2023) states that myths can play a role in social and political life and even show national identity. From the results of previous research, myths still play a role and persist in the community that supports them.…”

“…Meanwhile, Waitt (1999) provides information that myths survive in a community because of efforts to defend indigenous communities, such as those related to environmental myths, hoping that the environment will be protected from people who would destroy it. In another study, Al-kadi (2023) stated that myths persist because there are myth speakers and the belief that myths are part of belief itself.…”