semiotics in practice

Semiotics - Study of Signs

Types of Signs

Icon
Index
Symbol

Signify by

Resemblance

Causal relationship

Conventional or arbitrary relationship

Process

Can recognize the object

Can figure out the relationship

Must learn the relationship

Example

Photograph

Smoke and fire

Religious symbol

Visual Example

How We "Read" an Image

Syntactic
Semantic
Pragmatic

Definition

Structure of the image

Meaning of the image

Effect/impact of the image

Example

When we took the two curves and put them together to make a simple abstract fish, we were doing syntax. The two curves are like a subject and verb that combine to make a sentence.

While each of us may see the same general image, we each have our own understanding of the image and thus our own meaning. Catfish does not mean the same to each of us.

When an image causes us to have a response, we are aware of its effect on us. Most of us view a swastika in a generally neutral manner, but had our relatives died in concentration camps, we might respond much differently.

Some Additional Concepts

Example
Method of Creating
Visual Example

Condensation - the process by which we combine elements from unrelated images to form a new image. In this example, the face of a person is combined with the image from a computer program to give a new image of a person with a unique way of seeing the world -- through the eyes of computer software. This image was part of an advertisement.

Face + computer software menu

Unification of unrelated elements

Displacement - the process by which we transfer meaning from one sign or image to another. Displacement images often have strong sexual associations derived from Freudian psychotherapy. The Crown Royal ad given here needs little explanation in terms of its sexual meaning even though it was used as a Christmas ad suggesting Santa might want to visit this particular house.

Arrow = penis

Substitution of one element for another, often with sexual associations

Metaphor - the process by which we gain understanding by means of an analogy. Here we see censorship compared to a book of matches whose cover is the U.S. flag. There is a clear analogy between the concept of censorship and flag burning.

Book as matchbook

Analogy of one known element to some concept or unknown element

Metonymy - the process where we use an image to create an association in the mind of the viewer. In this case, the feeling of being on a lake with the one you love, or would like to love, is a positive analogy. The use of the orange to represent both the setting sun and the liquor adds to the impact of the association.

Sunset = romance

Association where one positive element is used to focus attention on a good feeling about the object or product.

	Icon	Index	Symbol
Signify by	Resemblance	Causal relationship	Conventional or arbitrary relationship
Process	Can recognize the object	Can figure out the relationship	Must learn the relationship
Example	Photograph	Smoke and fire	Religious symbol
Visual Example

	Syntactic	Semantic	Pragmatic
Definition	Structure of the image	Meaning of the image	Effect/impact of the image
Example	When we took the two curves and put them together to make a simple abstract fish, we were doing syntax. The two curves are like a subject and verb that combine to make a sentence.	While each of us may see the same general image, we each have our own understanding of the image and thus our own meaning. Catfish does not mean the same to each of us.	When an image causes us to have a response, we are aware of its effect on us. Most of us view a swastika in a generally neutral manner, but had our relatives died in concentration camps, we might respond much differently.

	Example	Method of Creating	Visual Example
Condensation - the process by which we combine elements from unrelated images to form a new image. In this example, the face of a person is combined with the image from a computer program to give a new image of a person with a unique way of seeing the world -- through the eyes of computer software. This image was part of an advertisement.	Face + computer software menu	Unification of unrelated elements
Displacement - the process by which we transfer meaning from one sign or image to another. Displacement images often have strong sexual associations derived from Freudian psychotherapy. The Crown Royal ad given here needs little explanation in terms of its sexual meaning even though it was used as a Christmas ad suggesting Santa might want to visit this particular house.	Arrow = penis	Substitution of one element for another, often with sexual associations
Metaphor - the process by which we gain understanding by means of an analogy. Here we see censorship compared to a book of matches whose cover is the U.S. flag. There is a clear analogy between the concept of censorship and flag burning.	Book as matchbook	Analogy of one known element to some concept or unknown element
Metonymy - the process where we use an image to create an association in the mind of the viewer. In this case, the feeling of being on a lake with the one you love, or would like to love, is a positive analogy. The use of the orange to represent both the setting sun and the liquor adds to the impact of the association.	Sunset = romance	Association where one positive element is used to focus attention on a good feeling about the object or product.