Essay proposal

No defined essay title yet but I want to use Barthes' theory of/essay on 'the myth' from his book, Mythologies and apply this when comparing and analysing two newspaper front pages from a tabloid and broadsheet, purchased on the same day.

Signifier (form) - Signified (concept) - Sign (signification)

The topics I cover will inevitably be influenced by the front covers themselves, whether the main stories centre on celebrity culture, politics, war and so on - it may differ substantially between the two.

Source material

- Barthes, R (1957) Mythologies / Myth Today

Barthes addresses the question of "What is a myth, today?" with the analysis of ideas such as: myth as a type of speech, and myth on the wings of politics.


- Barthes, R (1961) The Photographic Message
Another essay by Barthes that explores semiotics in terms of photographic imagery. I can apply this theory to the photographs typically displayed on newspaper front pages.

- Crow, D (2008) Visible Signs: An Introduction to Semiotics

Visible signs provides insight into the fundamentals of semiotic theory and how the term originated. It also explores 'basic communication terms and theoretical contexts through visual examples of graphic work.'

- Chandler, D (2002) Semiotics
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/semiotic.html

- Silverman, K (1983) The Subject of Semiotics

Another essay exploring semiotic theory as a whole; applying this theory to various 'things'.

- Hartley, J (1982) Understanding News

We rely... on what we've learnt in language as the way of organising the world around us into some semblance of order". As this publication focuses primarily on the news and the associated signs, myths and connotations that comes with contemporary media, I believe this would provide a great insight.