Week 4 Semiotics
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The document explores the development of semiotics, focusing on key theorists such as Ferdinand de Saussure, Charles Peirce, and Roland Barthes. It discusses various types of signs and their relationships, as well as Barthes' contributions to the understanding of myth, polysemy, and the concept of the 'readerly' versus 'writerly' text. Additionally, it provides a list of recommended readings for further exploration of these concepts.
![Death of the Author
"[The text is a] multidimensional space in
which a variety of writings none of them
original, blend and clash. The text is a
tissue of quotations drawn from
innumerable centres of culture."
Barthes, R. (1977) Image-Music-Text, New
York: Hill and Wang.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/week4semiotics-140731053449-phpapp02/85/Week-4-Semiotics-20-320.jpg)
Week 4 Semiotics
- 1. Semiotics The Study of Signs
- 2. … so where were we…?
- 3. Ferdinand de Saussure • Ferdinand de Saussure • Swiss Linguist 1875 -1913 • Father of Structuralism • Key work Course in General Linguistics (Cours de linguistique générale) • Takes a synchronic rather than diachronic approach to the study of language
- 5. Charles Peirce Another theorist who extended on the ideas of Saussure: •Charles Peirce – American Philosopher (1839 – 1914)
- 6. Charles Peirce • Expanded on the definition of a sign – three different and distinct relationships between the signifier and signified. • ICONIC SIGN: Signifier represents or resembles the signified • INDEXICAL SIGN: Signifier has a causal relationship to the signified • SYMBOLIC SIGN: Signifier has a conventional/arbitrary relationship to the signified
- 7. So….. the type of relationship between the signifier and signified (that constitute the sign) • can change • can be multiple
- 8. And again…
- 9. So… …there are still types of signification (meaning making) that we haven’t got a framework for
- 10. Roland Barthes • Another theorist who developed on both Saussure and Peirce’s ideas • Rolande Barthes, French Theorist (1915-1980) • Father of Semiotics
- 11. Semiotics In his book Mythologies (1957) Roland Barthes: • Applied Structuralist ideas beyond language to other cultural communication forms • Provided political agenda for semiotics
- 12. What’s the big idea? Identified a paradox within Saussure’s formulation of the sign
- 13. Task = red rose-ness ….and what other meanings?
- 14. Signifier: Picture of rose Signified: Red rose-ness Signifier: Red- rose-ness Signified: Romance Polysemic Sign
- 15. Semiotics The process and construction of ‘Myth’: • First Order Signification: Denotive, • Second Order Signification: Connotive, Second order signification is Myth making
- 16. FIRST ORDER SIGNIFICATION Denotation “red rose-ness” SECOND ORDER SIGNIFICATION Connotation “romance”
- 17. Semiotics For Barthes then: 1. The sign is polysemic 2. Myth, second order signification is political and therefore ideological
- 18. Another idea… Roland Barthes identified two types of second order signification: Connotational Conjunction: when sign systems work together to generate a mythologically dominant meaning – female ballerina dressed in a white tutu viewed as swan Connotational Disjunction: when sign systems work in opposition to generate a critical meaning – male dancer dressed in feathers viewed as a swan
- 19. Roland Barthes • Expanded the application of linguistic theory….. • Therefore - idea of ‘the text’ • The ‘readerly text’ (passive) • The ‘writerly text’ (active) • And death of the author
- 20. Death of the Author "[The text is a] multidimensional space in which a variety of writings none of them original, blend and clash. The text is a tissue of quotations drawn from innumerable centres of culture." Barthes, R. (1977) Image-Music-Text, New York: Hill and Wang.
- 21. So…
- 22. Reading • Adshead, J. (1988) Dance analysis: theory and practice. London: Dance Books • Aston, E. (1991) Theatre as sign-system: a semiotics of text and performance. London: Routledge. • Chandler, D. (2007) Semiotics: the basics. London: Routledge. • Counsell, C. & Wolf, L. (2001) Performance analysis: an introductory coursebook. London: Routledge.
- 23. Reading • Elam, K. (2002) The semiotics of theatre and drama. London: Routledge. • Pavis, P. (2003) Analyzing performance: theater, dance, and film. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. • Preson-Dunlop, V. & Sanchez-Colberg, A. (2010) Dance and the performative: a choreological perspective: Laban and beyond. London: Dance Books. • Storey, J. (2006) Cultural theory and popular culture: an introduction. Harlow: Pearson Prentice Hall.