Barthes, Roland (1915-1980) French semiologist, best known for his book Mythologies (1957).
Barthes argued that most of what we assume to be natural could be products of history and culture.
Linguistic and artistic representations play a crucial role in the naturalization of arbitrary and morally neutral historical events.
By way of example, politically active gay persons usually challenge the argument that homosexuality is ethically bad because it is unnatural, and that heterosexuality is ethically good because it is natural.
According to this line of reasoning, a deadly rattlesnake could be good for young children because it is natural.
Regardless of one’s beliefs about homosexuality, to challenge it with this type of reasoning is philosophically weak. » Baudrillard (Jean), Foucault (Michel), Semiology
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