Mythologies (Barthes)

"Mythologies" by Roland Barthes is a collection of essays analyzing how everyday objects, media, and cultural practices carry deeper, often unconscious meanings. Barthes explores how modern myths—like advertisements, fashion, or popular customs—transform complex social ideas into simple, accepted narratives that shape our understanding of reality. By revealing these hidden messages, Barthes shows how culture can reinforce power and social conventions without us noticing. Essentially, the book helps us see the ways in which popular culture constructs and maintains certain worldviews, encouraging critical awareness of the stories we absorb daily.