Semiotik iklan roland barthes biography

In Media and Communications, the name Roland Barthes echoes through the corridors of semiotics and also in cultural theory. Born in , Barthes, a French literary theorist, philosopher, and semiotician, left an indelible mark on the understanding of signs and symbols. Thus, focusing on their role in shaping meaning within media and culture. Holding degrees in classical literature and grammar, Barthes later delved into sociology, philosophy, and linguistics.

His multidisciplinary approach laid the foundation for his groundbreaking theories that would further reshape the landscape of Media and Communications studies. Post-Structuralism challenges the idea of fixed meanings, hierarchical structures, and stable identities. Instead, emphasises the instability and plurality of meanings in language and culture.

In this collection of essays, he dissected seemingly mundane aspects of popular culture, revealing their hidden layers of meaning.

The semiology analysis in media studies - roland barthes approach

In analysing soap advertisements, Barthes highlighted how these seemingly banal products conveyed deeper cultural messages. He pointed out that these ads were not merely about cleanliness. In fact, carried symbolic meanings related to class, gender roles, and societal expectations. The immaculate imagery in detergent ads, according to Barthes, also constructed a myth of purity and social aspiration.

Barthes also extended his semiotic analysis to the world of wrestling, exploring how this form of entertainment conveyed cultural values. He further argued that wrestling was a spectacle of excess, a dramatisation of moral conflicts and societal struggles. The wrestlers themselves also became mythic figures, embodying archetypal roles that resonated with the audience.

Barthes revealed how wrestling, far from being a simple sport, was therefore a theatre of symbols and meanings. Drawing inspiration from linguistics, he expanded the idea of language beyond words, asserting that everything in our cultural environment communicates meaning through signs.