SEMIOTICS

OK, I am very. very late with all these posts. But I guess It is better late then never.

Let me start with signs as the whole semiotics thing is about them.

A sign consists of the "signifier", which is the physical form of the sign and of the "signified", which is the mental concept that is asSIGNed to the signifier.

SIGNIFIER:                                                

SIGNIFIED: stop moving, brake...










A signifier can have different significations, depending on the time, culture, situation. For example:

mental concept: good, very nice....

mental concept: let him live...

mental concept: i need a ride...














Next in line is the idea of signs being Arbitrary or Iconic. The more the sign resembles or comes closer to the concept the more iconic it is. And the more abstract it becomes, and has almost nothing to do with the concept, the more arbitrary it is.

Example:

Very Iconic

Less Iconic

More Arbitrary

Very Arbitrary

SEAGULL




But that is not all. Signs also have denotations, which are the most basic understandings of it.
And different connotations, more subjective understandings of the sign.
The myth of the sign are  the implications of the ideology behind the sign.

I will try to demonstrate these on a few of my favourite childhood characters.

denotation:
- a short turtle character with a big bow tie, wide stance, smug smile, big feet, big head in proportion to body
- a big wolf, smiling, wearing poorly fitting clothes, hugging and patting the other two, small head, big mouth
- a fox with big hair, arms crossed, feet wide apart, and casual clothes

connotation:
-turtle is smart, determined, not limited by his size, well off...
-wolf is kind, simple, friendly, poor but happy...
-the fox is confident, optimistic, takes care of his looks?...





myth:
-turtles are stubborn, hard-headed, short characters have to try harder than others,
-hungry wolf, simple friendly poor guy..
-cunning fox, average joe...