Concept of Myth as a Marker of Social Context: Roland Barthes and Pavel Gurevich

Abstract

Philosophers often incorporate the concept of myth in their works since it is an important part of human life. However, considering the concepts regarding such phenomenon as myth in certain philosophical works can also indicate other important issues. One of such issues is the one about the attitude to society in general as well as to its flaws and the need to deal with them, or at least to present them. The article explores Roland Barthes and Pavel Gurevich’s concepts of myth as well as provides conclusions based on these theories about Western and Soviet views on society. The paper argues that both Barthes and Gurevich view myth as a society-made phenomenon that fills people’s lives with illusions and manipulations. However, Barthes uses semiological approach, presenting myth as a second-order semiological system, while Gurevich insists that myth has a social origin, is closely related to the concept of ideology, and that the mythmakers are the elites that oppress the lower class. In addition, while Barthes criticizes his own society, Gurevich states that myths exist and are produced by Western society which is an antipode to his own, Soviet society. Taking into account all the above-mentioned facts, it is assumed that there was a request in Western society to analyze and identify its flaws, while Soviet society represented by the philosopher related to the dominant power structures used the concept of myth for ideological purpose to show the flaws of Western society and thus the advantages of Soviet society.

Keywords

• myth
• philosophy
• history of philosophy
• roland barthes