The Ideological Abuse Hidden in The Decorative Display of What-Goes-Without-Saying

1957
The Ideological Abuse Hidden in The Decorative Display of What-Goes-Without-Saying

‘The starting point of these reflections was usually a feeling of impatience at the sight of the ‘naturalness’ with which newspapers, art and common sense constantly dress up a reality which, even though it is the one we live in, is undoubtedly determined by history. In short, in the account given of our contemporary circumstances, I resented seeing Nature and History confused at every turn, and I wanted to track down, in the decorative display of what-goes-without-saying, the ideological abuse which, in my view, is hidden there.’ (Barthes, 1991)