Rahpooye Honar-Ha-Ye Tajassomi

Rahpooye Honar-Ha-Ye Tajassomi

The Sociological Functions of Myth in Modern Media From the Perspective of Claude Lévi-Strauss’s Binary Structure

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
somayeh rasoulipour 1
Nizamuddin Emamifar 2
somayeh arezoofar 3
1 PhD in Art Research, Faculty of Arts, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Arts, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Arts, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/ra.2025.2033216.1454
Abstract
Media provide possibilities for communication and interaction based on their specific characteristics and capabilities. The emergence of the electronic revolution led to the widespread use of computers in various areas of life and transformed the ways in which the arts are presented. The computer, as a tool at the service of the arts, introduced a new transformation in the history of art. By integrating different artistic media in their works, the artist benefits from the expressive capacities of multiple media, and the audience is also given the possibility to influence and participate in shaping the space. In this context, media serve as an important element in the cultural and social system of signs for myth-making. Today, the media are responsible for disseminating teachings and transmitting messages. Audiences of modern media can no longer believe in myths unquestioningly as in the past, yet they also cannot completely abandon them. Therefore, when mythic symbols are expressed through these media, they can become the most effective and efficient expressive structure for conveying enduring concepts. Myths, as stories of hereditary cultural and social values, play an important role in shaping the identity and beliefs of society. In modern media, these myths are renovated and rewritten in a variety of ways, such as in film, television, the Internet, and social media. Lévi-Strauss’s approach is based on a structural sociological analysis that emphasizes structuralist theories. This approach examines how social and cultural structures are formed and transformed, as well as their impact on individuals’ behaviors and beliefs. Therefore, using Lévi-Strauss’s perspective, one can explore the influence of myths in modern media and analyze their role in shaping social identity and beliefs. Such an analysis can contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between myths and modern media and their impact on contemporary societies. This research is theoretically fundamental and descriptive-analytical. Collecting the required information is done by documentary method, library studies, and computer scanning equipment. The analysis of the works has also been done qualitatively. The study cases of this research are 4 works from among new media, which are chosen in an improbable way. This means that according to the initial familiarity with the media and works, samples have been selected that are able to provide the desired information in this research in order to be effective in understanding the research problem. According to what was stated about the sociological function of myth from Levi-Strauss's perspective in this article and by examining 4 selected works with this approach, the questions raised in the research can be answered as follows:
1. Several factors are involved in the formation of the sociological function of myth in modern media. Some of these factors are:
- Technology and new media: The advancement of technology and the expansion of new media have provided the possibility of easy access to legendary content. This has increased the influence and recognition of myths in modern society.
- Social and cultural changes: Changes in social and cultural structures have created the need to rewrite and reconstruct myths to adapt to new conditions. These changes can play a big role in shaping the sociological function of myth in modern media.
- Need for identity and cultural values: societies always need to provide identity and cultural values. Myths play an important role in modern media as a main source for providing these needs.
- The role of content creators: Content creators such as writers, directors, and producers, by choosing and rewriting myths in modern media, can have a great impact on the formation of the sociological function of myths.
2. According to Levi-Strauss, myths play an important role in providing the identity and cultural values of the society and act as a cognitive and social symbol. In modern media, myths are used as a main source for social and cultural communication. These myths can act as a common language between different people in society and increase solidarity and social interactions.
Consequently, myths in modern media can serve as a means of fulfilling the identity needs and cultural values of society. Rewriting and reconstructing myths in the form of new media can help strengthen individual and collective identity and strengthen social connections. Therefore, according to Levi-Strauss' opinion, myths in modern media play an important role in forming and strengthening the identity and cultural values of the society and act as a main source for meeting the needs of the society for identity and cultural values.
Keywords
Sociological
new media
myth
double oppositions
Claudel Louis Strauss
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Rahpooye Honar-Ha-Ye Tajassomi
Volume 8, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 79-90

  • Receive Date 21 June 2024
  • Revise Date 10 September 2024
  • Accept Date 14 April 2025