The primary aim of the study is to make a contribution to the discipline of myth theory, or mythology, within the academic field of enquiry of media studies. To this end, the first part of the study comprises a literature review of relevant myth theory, during which the quantitative disparity on myth theory, between myth literature describing dominant myth and that dealing with counter myth, is highlighted. In order to address the comparatively smaller amount of theory concerned with counter myth, the study proceeds to theorise the semiotic technical functions of counter myth, the socio-political functions of counter myth and examines the social values and dangers of counter myth in society. Furthermore, counter myth is considered with regard to media framing, the relationship between counter myth and political myth is addressed, and the characteristics and criteria of counter myth are outlined. In keeping with the main purpose of the study, which is to provide a new contribution to myth theory, the theoretical problematics of the definition and classification of both myth and counter myth is confronted, and mechanisms for contending with these theoretical difficulties are suggested. A theoretical framework for the analysis of myth and counter myth on film is developed, which is based on the theorisation of counter myth performed in the literature study. In the second part of the study this theoretical framework is applied to a sample of purposefully selected post apartheid South African history films as a case study. The primary purpose of this case study is to serve as a demonstration of how the theoretical framework for the analysis of myth and counter myth can be put to use in the critical analysis of media texts, in this study applied to film (as a mediated text). The secondary purpose of the case study is to examine a selection of post apartheid South African counter myths, which explicitly work to remythologise the collective social identity construction of the white South African, in the post 1994 socio-political environment. In this way, the study demonstrates how myth and counter myth may facilitate identity (re)construction during and after a period of societal upheaval or transformation. / Communication Science / (D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication Science))

The primary aim of the study is to make a contribution to the discipline of myth theory, or mythology, within the academic field of enquiry of media studies. To this end, the first part of the study comprises a literature review of relevant myth theory, during which the quantitative disparity on myth theory, between myth literature describing dominant myth and that dealing with counter myth, is highlighted. In order to address the comparatively smaller amount of theory concerned with counter myth, the study proceeds to theorise the semiotic technical functions of counter myth, the socio-political functions of counter myth and examines the social values and dangers of counter myth in society. Furthermore, counter myth is considered with regard to media framing, the relationship between counter myth and political myth is addressed, and the characteristics and criteria of counter myth are outlined. In keeping with the main purpose of the study, which is to provide a new contribution to myth theory, the theoretical problematics of the definition and classification of both myth and counter myth is confronted, and mechanisms for contending with these theoretical difficulties are suggested. A theoretical framework for the analysis of myth and counter myth on film is developed, which is based on the theorisation of counter myth performed in the literature study. In the second part of the study this theoretical framework is applied to a sample of purposefully selected post apartheid South African history films as a case study. The primary purpose of this case study is to serve as a demonstration of how the theoretical framework for the analysis of myth and counter myth can be put to use in the critical analysis of media texts, in this study applied to film (as a mediated text). The secondary purpose of the case study is to examine a selection of post apartheid South African counter myths, which explicitly work to remythologise the collective social identity construction of the white South African, in the post 1994 socio-political environment. In this way, the study demonstrates how myth and counter myth may facilitate identity (re)construction during and after a period of societal upheaval or transformation. / Communication Science / (D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication Science))

There is a widespread conception that myths are false and manipulative which is why man must strive to move away from them. Simultaneously they affect our social lives to a high degree, especially political myths. With a starting point of the science of rhetoric needing to complement its understanding of how social meaning is produced, this essay will attempt to develop a theoretical understanding of how political myths functions and produce social meaning. The questions that guide the investigation are how the concept of myth is understood in other scientific contexts, which functions myth fulfills and in which way the concept of myth can supplement the science of rhetoric. The investigation is based on Roland Barthes’, Kenneth Burke’s and Ernst Cassirer’s perspective on political myth. The study concludes that myth often functions to oversimplify diversity to sustain the prevailing political order or to overthrow it. Furthermore, it shows that myth can be understood as a way for man to express emotion and that these myths can be activated by the utterance of a word or sentence. Based on this notion, I argue that one should view myth as a function rather than a definition. I further claim the importance of understanding that mythical expression cannot be met by ‘rational’ or ‘logical’ arguments. I rather propose that rhetorical myth analysis ought to be combined with theories of language’s ethical dimension to be interpreted in an accurate manner.

This paper argues that the EU’s enlargement discourse can be understood as a form of political myth wherein a subject must align itself with an fantasmatic ideal type ofEuropean state. It works through positing a past from which the subject must advance, and a mythical horizon towards which the subject strives. The stage in between these temporal phases is understood as liminality, an ontological limbo of sorts. To illustrate how the political myth works, a discourse analysis is conducted by investigating reports by the UN and EU on the status of Kosovo’s alignment with ‘European standards’ and evaluations of the political situation. By applying the political discourse theory of Laclau and Mouffe, it was found that the image of the past in Kosovo was filled with symbols of ethnic conflict, clan affiliation andlingering communism, while the mythical horizon of European integration promised a utopian idea of multi-ethnicity, rule of law and freedom of movement. Kosovo in the process of integration is then stuck in a liminal phase between these temporal points, while the EU through a set of categorical measurements constructs not only Kosovo’s identity but also the ideal image of a European state and how to become one.

A presente pesquisa investiga como se deu o processo de (des)construção da imagem pública de Lula durante a crise política brasileira de 2016 e como foram acionadas as narrativas do mito político nesse processo. Para atingirmos esses objetivos analisamos a circulação de narrativas no Twitter que mencionavam a palavra-chave \"Lula\" e que foram publicadas durante quatro contextos ocorridos naquele ano, quais sejam: as manifestações sociais a favor do impeachment de Dilma Rousseff que se deram em 13 de março; as protestações sociais contra o golpe ocorridas em 18 de março, a votação do processo de impeachment na Câmara dos Deputados, em 17 de abril, e no Senado Federal, em 12 de maio. Os procedimentos adotados para a realização da investigação basearam-se em pesquisa teórica sobre os conceitos de mito, narrativa e imagem pública política, bem como sobre a circulação desses conceitos nas sociedades midiatizadas. Além disso, realizamos pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a trajetória política de Lula, bem como acerca da crise política instituída no Brasil desde as manifestações sociais ocorridas em junho de 2013 com vistas a: a) compreender a polarização de sentidos entre as narrativas do impeachment e do golpe, na medida em que essa discussão se mostrou central nas conversações civis predominantemente após a autorização da instauração do processo de impeachment de Dilma Rousseff, em dezembro de 2015; e b) contextualizar os quatro períodos da crise política de 2016 supramencionados. Feito o percurso teórico, a pesquisa empírica baseou-se na análise de redes sociais para que fosse possível investigar os tipos de perfis ou de usuários do microblog (classificados em seis categorias, a saber: perfis de lideranças políticas, de veículos jornalísticos, de blogs jornalísticos, de formadores de opinião, de militância ou de usuários comuns) que foram fundamentais na circulação de informação sobre Lula nos períodos investigados. Baseou-se igualmente na análise de narrativas, destinada à compreensão do conteúdo dessas informações em circulação. / The present research investigates the process of (de)constructing of the public image of Lula during the Brazilian political crisis of 2016 and how the narratives of the political myth were triggered in this process. In order to reach these objectives, we analyzed the circulation of narratives on Twitter that mentioned the keyword \"Lula\" and that were published during four contexts that occurred in that year, namely: the social demonstrations in favor of Dilma Rousseff\'s impeachment that occurred on 13 March; the social protests against the coup on March 18, the impeachment vote in the Chamber of Deputies on April 17 and in the Federal Senate on May 12. The procedures adopted to carry out the research were based on theoretical research on the concepts of myth, narrative and public political image, as well as on the circulation of these concepts in mediatized societies. In addition, we carried out a bibliographical research on Lula\'s political trajectory, as well as on the political crisis instituted in Brazil since the social demonstrations that took place in June 2013, with a view to: a) understanding the polarization of meanings between the narratives of impeachment and the narratives of the coup, inasmuch as this discussion was central to civilian conversations predominantly after the authorization of Dilma Rousseff\'s impeachment process in December 2015; and b) contextualize the four contexts of the political crisis of 2016 mentioned above. The empirical research was based on the analysis of social networks so that it was possible to investigate the types of microblogging profiles or users (classified into six categories, to be specific: political leaders, journalistic vehicles, journalistic blogs, opinion leaders, militants or common users) that were fundamental in the circulation of information about Lula in the periods investigated. It was also based on the analysis of narratives, aimed at understanding the content of this information in circulation.

Este trabalho analisa como foi a repercussão do suicídio do presidente Getúlio Vargas no jornal Correio do Povo de Porto Alegre na semana subseqüente ao fato acontecido na manhã do dia 24 de agosto de 1954. Este trabalho também estuda como se deu o processo de mitificação post-mortem de Getúlio Vargas, através da análise das reportagens, artigos, discursos e mensagens ―A pedido‖ publicadas no periódico em questão. Buscou-se uma metodologia adequada pra se trabalhar com as fontes e, sobretudo, uma teoria que abarcasse temas como: processo de mitificação e mito político, especificamente sobre o mito político Getúlio Vargas consolidado nacionalmente durante o Estado Novo, de 1937 a 1945, como atesta a historiografia. Destaca-se o episódio da morte trágica como o elemento que distingue o processo de mitificação post-mortem dos demais momentos de mitificação de Vargas. Outro importante aspecto deste trabalho são os discursos fúnebres publicados pelo jornal porto-alegrense: as falas de Osvaldo Aranha e João Goulart proferidas em frente ao esquife no dia do enterro do ex-presidente e a fala do deputado Rui Ramos proferida na Capital Federal no mesmo dia fatídico que o são-borjense pôs termo a própria vida. Ao longo dessas falas destacamos também a do ilustre morto que ecoava de sua carta testamento, usada como recurso retórico nas manifestações fúnebres. Além dessas falas destacam-se também a posição da UDN e da Igreja Católica, como instituições que não sacralizavam a figura de Vargas morto. / This work analyses the impact of President Getulio Vargas‘ suicide in the newspaper Correio do Povo from Porto Alegre during the succeeding week after the morning of August 24, 1954. Moreover, it examines through published reports, articles, speeches and ―requested messages‖ how occurred the post-mortem mythification of Vargas. A suitable methodology and theory were used to address the sources on topics such as: process of mythification and political myth, specifically on the nationally consolidated Vargas‘ political myth during the Estado Novo period, from 1937 to 1945, as historiography attests. The tragic death episode is highlighted as the element that distinguishes the process of post-mortem mythification from other moments of Vargas‘ mythification. Another important aspect of this work are the published eulogies in the newspaper of Porto Alegre: the speeches of João Goulart and Osvaldo Aranha occurred in front of the coffin at the funeral day and the speech of deputy Rui Ramos in the federal capital in the very same fateful day that President Vargas ended his own life. Along these speeches is also highlighted the illustrious speech of Getúlio which echoed from his suicide note, used as a rhetorical asset in mournful demonstrations. Beyond these speeches, the UDN and the Catholic Church perspectives are highlighted, as institutions that did not canonize the figure of the dead Vargas.

Este trabalho analisa como foi a repercussão do suicídio do presidente Getúlio Vargas no jornal Correio do Povo de Porto Alegre na semana subseqüente ao fato acontecido na manhã do dia 24 de agosto de 1954. Este trabalho também estuda como se deu o processo de mitificação post-mortem de Getúlio Vargas, através da análise das reportagens, artigos, discursos e mensagens ―A pedido‖ publicadas no periódico em questão. Buscou-se uma metodologia adequada pra se trabalhar com as fontes e, sobretudo, uma teoria que abarcasse temas como: processo de mitificação e mito político, especificamente sobre o mito político Getúlio Vargas consolidado nacionalmente durante o Estado Novo, de 1937 a 1945, como atesta a historiografia. Destaca-se o episódio da morte trágica como o elemento que distingue o processo de mitificação post-mortem dos demais momentos de mitificação de Vargas. Outro importante aspecto deste trabalho são os discursos fúnebres publicados pelo jornal porto-alegrense: as falas de Osvaldo Aranha e João Goulart proferidas em frente ao esquife no dia do enterro do ex-presidente e a fala do deputado Rui Ramos proferida na Capital Federal no mesmo dia fatídico que o são-borjense pôs termo a própria vida. Ao longo dessas falas destacamos também a do ilustre morto que ecoava de sua carta testamento, usada como recurso retórico nas manifestações fúnebres. Além dessas falas destacam-se também a posição da UDN e da Igreja Católica, como instituições que não sacralizavam a figura de Vargas morto. / This work analyses the impact of President Getulio Vargas‘ suicide in the newspaper Correio do Povo from Porto Alegre during the succeeding week after the morning of August 24, 1954. Moreover, it examines through published reports, articles, speeches and ―requested messages‖ how occurred the post-mortem mythification of Vargas. A suitable methodology and theory were used to address the sources on topics such as: process of mythification and political myth, specifically on the nationally consolidated Vargas‘ political myth during the Estado Novo period, from 1937 to 1945, as historiography attests. The tragic death episode is highlighted as the element that distinguishes the process of post-mortem mythification from other moments of Vargas‘ mythification. Another important aspect of this work are the published eulogies in the newspaper of Porto Alegre: the speeches of João Goulart and Osvaldo Aranha occurred in front of the coffin at the funeral day and the speech of deputy Rui Ramos in the federal capital in the very same fateful day that President Vargas ended his own life. Along these speeches is also highlighted the illustrious speech of Getúlio which echoed from his suicide note, used as a rhetorical asset in mournful demonstrations. Beyond these speeches, the UDN and the Catholic Church perspectives are highlighted, as institutions that did not canonize the figure of the dead Vargas.

Este trabalho analisa como foi a repercussão do suicídio do presidente Getúlio Vargas no jornal Correio do Povo de Porto Alegre na semana subseqüente ao fato acontecido na manhã do dia 24 de agosto de 1954. Este trabalho também estuda como se deu o processo de mitificação post-mortem de Getúlio Vargas, através da análise das reportagens, artigos, discursos e mensagens ―A pedido‖ publicadas no periódico em questão. Buscou-se uma metodologia adequada pra se trabalhar com as fontes e, sobretudo, uma teoria que abarcasse temas como: processo de mitificação e mito político, especificamente sobre o mito político Getúlio Vargas consolidado nacionalmente durante o Estado Novo, de 1937 a 1945, como atesta a historiografia. Destaca-se o episódio da morte trágica como o elemento que distingue o processo de mitificação post-mortem dos demais momentos de mitificação de Vargas. Outro importante aspecto deste trabalho são os discursos fúnebres publicados pelo jornal porto-alegrense: as falas de Osvaldo Aranha e João Goulart proferidas em frente ao esquife no dia do enterro do ex-presidente e a fala do deputado Rui Ramos proferida na Capital Federal no mesmo dia fatídico que o são-borjense pôs termo a própria vida. Ao longo dessas falas destacamos também a do ilustre morto que ecoava de sua carta testamento, usada como recurso retórico nas manifestações fúnebres. Além dessas falas destacam-se também a posição da UDN e da Igreja Católica, como instituições que não sacralizavam a figura de Vargas morto. / This work analyses the impact of President Getulio Vargas‘ suicide in the newspaper Correio do Povo from Porto Alegre during the succeeding week after the morning of August 24, 1954. Moreover, it examines through published reports, articles, speeches and ―requested messages‖ how occurred the post-mortem mythification of Vargas. A suitable methodology and theory were used to address the sources on topics such as: process of mythification and political myth, specifically on the nationally consolidated Vargas‘ political myth during the Estado Novo period, from 1937 to 1945, as historiography attests. The tragic death episode is highlighted as the element that distinguishes the process of post-mortem mythification from other moments of Vargas‘ mythification. Another important aspect of this work are the published eulogies in the newspaper of Porto Alegre: the speeches of João Goulart and Osvaldo Aranha occurred in front of the coffin at the funeral day and the speech of deputy Rui Ramos in the federal capital in the very same fateful day that President Vargas ended his own life. Along these speeches is also highlighted the illustrious speech of Getúlio which echoed from his suicide note, used as a rhetorical asset in mournful demonstrations. Beyond these speeches, the UDN and the Catholic Church perspectives are highlighted, as institutions that did not canonize the figure of the dead Vargas.

A presente pesquisa investiga como se deu o processo de (des)construção da imagem pública de Lula durante a crise política brasileira de 2016 e como foram acionadas as narrativas do mito político nesse processo. Para atingirmos esses objetivos analisamos a circulação de narrativas no Twitter que mencionavam a palavra-chave \"Lula\" e que foram publicadas durante quatro contextos ocorridos naquele ano, quais sejam: as manifestações sociais a favor do impeachment de Dilma Rousseff que se deram em 13 de março; as protestações sociais contra o golpe ocorridas em 18 de março, a votação do processo de impeachment na Câmara dos Deputados, em 17 de abril, e no Senado Federal, em 12 de maio. Os procedimentos adotados para a realização da investigação basearam-se em pesquisa teórica sobre os conceitos de mito, narrativa e imagem pública política, bem como sobre a circulação desses conceitos nas sociedades midiatizadas. Além disso, realizamos pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a trajetória política de Lula, bem como acerca da crise política instituída no Brasil desde as manifestações sociais ocorridas em junho de 2013 com vistas a: a) compreender a polarização de sentidos entre as narrativas do impeachment e do golpe, na medida em que essa discussão se mostrou central nas conversações civis predominantemente após a autorização da instauração do processo de impeachment de Dilma Rousseff, em dezembro de 2015; e b) contextualizar os quatro períodos da crise política de 2016 supramencionados. Feito o percurso teórico, a pesquisa empírica baseou-se na análise de redes sociais para que fosse possível investigar os tipos de perfis ou de usuários do microblog (classificados em seis categorias, a saber: perfis de lideranças políticas, de veículos jornalísticos, de blogs jornalísticos, de formadores de opinião, de militância ou de usuários comuns) que foram fundamentais na circulação de informação sobre Lula nos períodos investigados. Baseou-se igualmente na análise de narrativas, destinada à compreensão do conteúdo dessas informações em circulação. / The present research investigates the process of (de)constructing of the public image of Lula during the Brazilian political crisis of 2016 and how the narratives of the political myth were triggered in this process. In order to reach these objectives, we analyzed the circulation of narratives on Twitter that mentioned the keyword \"Lula\" and that were published during four contexts that occurred in that year, namely: the social demonstrations in favor of Dilma Rousseff\'s impeachment that occurred on 13 March; the social protests against the coup on March 18, the impeachment vote in the Chamber of Deputies on April 17 and in the Federal Senate on May 12. The procedures adopted to carry out the research were based on theoretical research on the concepts of myth, narrative and public political image, as well as on the circulation of these concepts in mediatized societies. In addition, we carried out a bibliographical research on Lula\'s political trajectory, as well as on the political crisis instituted in Brazil since the social demonstrations that took place in June 2013, with a view to: a) understanding the polarization of meanings between the narratives of impeachment and the narratives of the coup, inasmuch as this discussion was central to civilian conversations predominantly after the authorization of Dilma Rousseff\'s impeachment process in December 2015; and b) contextualize the four contexts of the political crisis of 2016 mentioned above. The empirical research was based on the analysis of social networks so that it was possible to investigate the types of microblogging profiles or users (classified into six categories, to be specific: political leaders, journalistic vehicles, journalistic blogs, opinion leaders, militants or common users) that were fundamental in the circulation of information about Lula in the periods investigated. It was also based on the analysis of narratives, aimed at understanding the content of this information in circulation.

This thesis attempts to analyze the American Thesis, also the American Creed or the American Ideology (the terms as used by Anatol Lieven in America Right or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism) as the United States` national identity. In interaction with a set of national myths, the American Thesis constitutes the narrative of US America`s identity, the nation`s 'common sense' and morality. The thesis begins with the definition of the phenomenon of the nation as a political and cultural community, then proceeds to discuss the specific contexts from which the narrative image of the US nation emerged. Next, the thesis studies the American Creed as the cultural instrument of fostering social cohesion and assimilating uncanonical dissent. Finally, the myths of US nationalism are analyzed in the context of their narrative structure and affective dynamics which account for the ontological and emotive power of the American Thesis. Key words: the USA, US nationalism, the American Creed, myth, nation-building, national identity