What is semiotics and what elements/aspects of it are most useful in analyses of visual communication?
Semiotics is the science of signs and semiotic analysis is used in studies of sign processes in such fields as communication, cognition, linguistics, anthropology, marketing, medicine and cellular biology. The contemporary focus that most concerns us at this conference is on the communication aspects of semiotics, particularly the elements relevant to visual communication. The communication focus is reflected in the definition of semiotics given by Jakobson: “the exchange of any messages whatever and of the system of signs which underlie them.” (Sebeok, 1991, p. 60) Fiske adds another dimension to this definition–the generation of meaning. (1990, p. 42) In other words, messages are made of signs and conveyed through sign systems called codes; the more we share the same codes in a communication exchange, the closer our meanings will be. Presumably that is true for visual as well as verbal communication and a comparison of those two communication repertoires will be an important thread
Related Questions
- How do I determine which types of sensory input (visual, auditory, tactile) provide the most useful information to a nonverbal child who has low vision and has other disabilities?
- What is semiotics and what elements/aspects of it are most useful in analyses of visual communication?
- What is Visual Communication Technology?
