Myth and Ideology

In class, we learned the definitions and difference of the terms “Myth” and “Ideology.” We learn how these terms can be used and how they these terms steer our ideas of communication.

Myths are defined as the “stories we live by.” A myth is a story, a tale that is retold over and over again. Human beings love to tell stories. We use these stories to communicate. The myth can be split into categories of Naturalism, Liberalism, and Structuralism.

Ideology is “a constructed belief system that explains economics, political, and social reality to people and establishes collective goals of a class, group or in the case of a dominant ideology, the entire society.” They are a system of beliefs, values and ideas. Ideology is an image society gives itself in order to perpetuate itself.

The terms “myth” and “ideology” may be considered synonyms, two words that are similar but with slight differences between them. Both of these terms “indicate acts of communication (talking, writing, filming) require a background of ideas on which draw.” The term “ideology” has a political connotation behind it that the word “myth” lacks.

We use semiotics to make the ideas of myth and ideology, the “invisible side of communication,” into the visible side of communication. We use these ideas to make sense of intangible ideas and give them an image.