New mythologies in design and culture : reading signs and symbols in the visual landscape

Author

• Houze, Rebecca

Additional Author(s)

-

Publisher

London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2016

Language

English

ISBN

9780857857620

Series

Subject(s)

• COMMUNICATION IN DESIGN-UNITED STATES
• SIGNS AND SYMBOLS-UNITED STATES
• DESIGN-SOCIAL ASPECTS-UNITED STATES

Notes

. Bibliography: p. 227-234. Index: p. 235-260

Abstract

Taking as its point of departure Roland Barthes' classic series of essays, Mythologies, Rebecca Houze presents an exploration of signs and symbols in the visual landscape of postmodernity. In nine chapters Houze considers a range of contemporary phenomena, from the history of sustainability to the meaning of sports and children's building toys. Among the ubiquitous global trademarks she examines are BP, McDonald's, and Nike. What do these icons say to us today? What political and ideological messages are hidden beneath their surfaces? Taking the idea of myth in its broadest sense, the individual case studies employ a variety of analytic methods derived from linguistics, psychoanalysis, anthropology, sociology, and art history. In their eclecticism of approach they demonstrate the interdisciplinarity of design history and design studies.

Just as Barthes' meditations on culture concentrated on his native France, New Mythologies is rooted in the author's experience of living and teaching in the United States. Houze's reflections encompass both contemporary American popular culture and the history of American industry, with reference to such foundational figures as Thomas Jefferson and Walt Disney. The collection provides a point of entry into today's complex postmodern or post-postmodern world, and suggests some ways of thinking about its meanings, and the lessons we might learn from it.

Physical Dimension

Number of Page(s)

xii, 260 p.

Dimension

24 cm.

Other Desc.

ill.

Summary / Review / Table of Content

1. Green --
2. Gateway --
3. Bull's-Eye! --
4. I is for Indian --
5. The False Mirror --
6. Red State, Blue State --
7. DS --
8. Just do it --
9. The Grid.

Exemplar(s)

#	Accession No.	Call Number	Location	Status
1.	00959/19	745.40973 Hou N	Library - 7th Floor	Available