Are symbols, myths and metaphors sort of like file compression for culture?

In that sense, they are sort of file compression.

But in other senses the metaphor breaks, because it cannot convey the similarities.

One can enjoy a myth or symbol in itself -- but a compressed file is useless unless it can be opened.

Second, the uncompressed file can be comprehended at once (e.g a movie can be viewed, a compressed doc can be read, etc). The cultural notions that are "compressed" into myths, though, cannot be understood by anyone in their entirety -- so the "compression" of the myth is somehow necessary.

Third, a compressed file is usually the work of a single person. Whereas culture (and myths, symbols etc) are a shared work of a people.