Myth, as a subset of ideology, combines both the medium with the connotation and denotation of an item or piece. As a result, the mixing may attribute meaning to a certain item as denotative over time or because of prolific use.
For example, this photo of Patti Smith, taken by Mapplethorpe, has become synonymous with comfort and androgyny. Here, because of how Smith creates both a stance of comfort and confidence, the myth of this photo is the unconventional combination of both masculine and feminine structures, not necessarily a popular look in the seventies. This piece fits with punk aesthetics because she and Mapplethorpe reaffirm punk ideology through photo. This piece then worked to both symbolize and represent a punk lens, creating both a culture and perspective of viewership of nonconformist ideals.
But what is more recognizable as punk aesthetic is what one imagines a punk to LOOK like, rather than their ideology or what they believe in. Like this photo:
This photo relates to visual culture and myth because the Mohawk and clothing, while they do classify as punk aesthetics, are far from the punk aesthetic reminiscent of Patti Smith's photo. Rather this one displays an edginess which has come to be recognizable in popular media as what a punk is. Both photos are synonymous with punk but only one has become representative of the aesthetic, fulfilling the denotation through the connotation.
