semiotics study of signs. o the arnolfini marriage o jan van eyck 1434 o fashion o head dress o...

Semiotics

Study of Signs

o The Arnolfini Marriageo Jan van Eyck 1434

o Fashiono Head Dresso Heavy Clothing, Greeno Bedo Dogo Shoeso Orangeso Cherries o Hands (1 and 2)o Eyeso Mirroro Broom

o Chandelier

Diamond Engagement Ring Tradition

Terminology

Signo Something that stands for

something else (signifier)

Signified / Signifcationo DeBeers created this signification:

Size of the diamond equates to amount of love and worth of the bride.

o = =

Image: a collection of signs

Codeso Systems of signs

Decodeo To read signs (what is being

signified)

Denotation: Literal Meaningo Literal Meaning

Connotation: Ideology / Mythology

Terminology

o Signo Something that stands for something else

(“signifier”)o Signified:o What the sign meanso Significationo Meaning / the act of signifyingo Decodeo To read signso Image:o A collection of signso Codeso Systems of signs (e.g., bridal codes)o Denotation: o Literal meaningo Connotation: o Ideology/Mythology

De Saussure: Signs become defined by their differences with other signs in a system.

Barthes

Denotation

Connotation

(Connotation obscuring Denotation)

Matthias Grunewald, Crucifixion, 1512-1515

Destabilization of a Sign

o Example: Concorde Jet

Is this a symbol, icon, or index?

Symbol, Icon, or Index?

Symbol, Icon, or Index?Betty Crocker

Icons

o Iconographic: o Having the qualities of an icono Iconography: o Use of iconso Iconoclasto Destroyer of Icons

Paradigmatic/syntagmatic

Critical TheorySome ideas that influence

the way we read signs:

Freudian (Psychoanalysis)JungianFeministEthnicMarxist

Semiotics

Freud: Id, Ego, Super Ego

Freud: Sublimation

Freud: Phallic Symbols

Freud: Phallic Symbols

Freud: “Penis Envy”

Freud: Fear of Castration