Semiotics

In one of our lessons, we focused on Semiotics. We looked into what they were and were given many examples, as well as making our own.

The word 'semiotics' is from Greek origin meaning 'observant of signs'. Semiotics is the study of signs and sign processes, focusing on the metaphor and symbolism of an object for example.

Semiotics is closely linked to 'Linguistics', which is the study of the structure and meaning of language.
'Semiotics' is often divided into three branches. The first is Semantics which is the relation between signs and what they refer to i.e. their denotation. The second is Syntactics which is the relations among signs in formal structures.

The final is Pragmatics which is again the relation between signs, but also the effects that they have on people who use them.
An example of a Pragmatic could be - a pragmatic approach by where the use of social interaction improves the communication between two people.

A famous Semiotician, Umberto Eco was sure of the fact that every cultural phenomenom can be studied through communication. Other Semioticians decided to focus on the more logical side. Especially science. They looked into different areas belonging to the natural sciences for example; how organisms predict to adapt.

The importance of being able to interpret and understand various signs has been importantly recognised throughout 'philosophy', as well as psychology. An age old theory involves Plato and Aristotle as the explored the relationship between signs and the world they were living in. The theories have had a long lasting effect on philosophy.

Umberto Eco, in his study of 'Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language' has argued that Semiotic theories are not plainly expressed.

Charles Sanders Peirce, born 1839, died 1914, was a well known logician who discovered philosophical pragmatism.
He defined that something such as an object, goes on to determine a sign which influences an interpretation.
Semiotics could branch out from a single personal view of a specific word to a picture completely pulled apart and labelled with various different connotations and denotations.
An example;

The simple ideas that come from this basic picture of a love heart could be; The colour is red, which could symbolize love, longing and lust. Red also reflects anger or blood which could be a literal connotation seeing as it's a heart - a vital organ. The shape of the heart is of classic nature where you would imagine a school child, or someone of less ability to draw it. The image is bold and by itself, linking to the idea of a lonely heart or a missing link?
This is a basic idea involving semiotics as far as the image goes. A key thing to remember is to comment on what is actually there, as well as what you have interpreted i.e. what different things this could symbolise. This will expand the outlines of the image and make the break down more interesting.