Blue Back Square - Myth - Essay Example

Blue Back Square: Myth Myths are a form of communication where people seek meaning regarding a particular phenomenon, or object with significance in historical limits. Barthes (109) argues that myth cannot be defined as an idea, concept, or an object, but it has to be a more of signification. This is through such signification that people have to create regarding cultural, heritage, or any aspect with a historical significance to enable the aspect of communication and creation of meaning in such communication. Therefore, as Barthes argues, since the world is fertile with multiple suggestions regarding an aspect, anything can pass to be a myth; more and more suggestions are brought forward to explain the significance and meaning of such an aspect. Therefore, in defining a myth, three aspects have to be considered: the signifier, the signified, and the sign (Barthes, 114). The significant according to Barthes has to be the original crisis within a subject about which people have to try and create meaning. The literature about the item may be termed as the signifier, while the relationship between the crisis and the language used may be termed as the signification. All above aspects have to be reduced to mere language, whether in form of symbolism, or the language used to describe such an object. In this article, the architectural work in Blue Back Square, the significance of the square and the myths that may be used to describe and construct meaning regarding the city will be illustrated in explaining the meaning of myth. Lynch (6) explains that the environmental or observable images in a particular place are as a result of the observer and the environment. In this case as Lynch elaborates, the environment offers distinctions and inherent relations, with the observer using their adaptations and reasoning to construct, organize and give meaning to what they see. The image observed in this case, limits and gives more emphasis on what is perceived, while the image is then tested with multiple inputs of perception, making the reality observed from such a building to have multiple realities between different observers; this makes any phenomena to qualify in being a myth. For example, in Blue Back Square, in West Hartford town, the community stands out in its peculiar and unique characteristics that make people to try in constructing meanings regarding the symbolism, or what is being communicated by such a culture, in what amounts to be a myth. The locality takes pride in many architectural works, which are perceived to communicate certain aspects in history or cultural orientation. For example, in Blue Back Square, though the square is in the middle of another city, the place looks like a city in its own, complete with a unique identity described by a rich heritage of buildings, some of which are a few hundred years old, and a rich mixture of different cultures from Europe, blacks, Moroccans, and others. The rich cultural heritage provides a rich mixture of cultures represented by buildings, people, and other styles that make people to construct the meaning regarding signification communicated by such different stylistic works, which gives the inner city a unique and beautiful image from the rest. The attempt to construct such signification constitutes to a myth in this case, as more and more explanations have to be made on the same. In other words, a myth needs the signified, which is the heritage and cultural context communicated by such architectural work, the signifier which is the language used to construct such meaning, and the signification, which is the relationship between the signifier and signification, or work that has to be done (Berthes, 114). Moreover, speech or message in this case is not constructed only through written language, but also through the photography, and the perceived images of such buildings. The purpose of a myth is to cause an impression which is treasured among the people with whom such impression is credited to, despite the reality of truth. For example, in Blue Back Square, the people are considered wealthy, cultural oriented, and people who enjoy a rich cultural mix judged form the architectural work, and community composition. By being perceived to be rich and cultural oriented, this gives meaning and pride to their life. Lynch (10) explains that a highly imaginable city that may have some artistic images and other forms will appear distinct, formed, and remarkable; such a city would invite more people through perception and other mythical stories to participate in deconstructing meaning regarding such a city. These are the same aspects defining Blue Back Square, in its uniqueness. Moreover, Barthes (131) explains the purpose of a myth has to be “naturalization of the concept.” This implies that the causality in this case has to be artificial and false, but it has to enter though back door of nature (Barthes, 131). A myth is thus an innocent speech with its intentions being naturalized. For example, in the case of Blue Back Square, the buildings are perceived to represent the culture of the inhabitants, while the perception that all those who live in this locality are rich makes even those not rich to be perceived rich by being related to the square. However, as illustrated, the signifier of such a myth is ambiguous and does not provide any sensory reality. As Barthes (117) argues, form only impoverishes the meaning and only keeps it at its disposal, where the meaning will lose its inherent value, but has to keep its life; the form of the myth will once again be nourished as a reserve for history or tamed richness. Such may be argued to be the case in Blue Back Square. Though the many arguments in explaining the square do not have factual backing, such relations and association of the square with culture, richness, and other qualities will still continue, which makes the square to be allocated its historical context In the case of Blue Back Square, motivation comes from the search for meaning. As people perceive unique buildings along the streets with remarkable architectural works, suggestions and explanations towards deconstructing the context and meaning of the inhabitants, and the unique features makes more and more people to construct meanings towards explaining the phenomena. Moreover, Blue Back Square by its perception as a city on its own despite being in another town is perceived as being suggestive, making the use of signification important in hiding behind the real fact behind the square; generalizing becomes innocent and neutral in explaining myths and justifying the assertions above through the perception of buildings and the community living in this area. Myths have to have the above motivations to exist as important tools for communication and appending meanings to objects. As observed, myths are important communication, as a language, which needs special conditions in order to qualify as myths. Myths are based on three pillars: the signifier, the signification and the signified. Through myths, people construct and deconstruct meanings to explain issues, though such issues are devoid of form as myths have no reality, but their use constructs a history that is perceived as a reality. Therefore, myths are necessary as a tool to inquire about certain phenomena and create answers based on perception. Work Cited Barthes, Roland, “Myth Today” (Attachment ) Harding M. J. Roland Barthes “Myth Today” Explained through Architecture. Youtube, 2nd Dec, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ5IfDcL9pU Accessed 15th Dec. 2012 Lynch, Kevin, The Image of the City, London: MIT Press, 1960 Read More