Semiotics

The idea of Semiotics is about 'READING THE SIGNS' A Sign , which is the signifier (the actual form of something) plus the signified (the concept of it) therefore the sign 'DOG' creates the signified furry, barking, scruffy, four legged animal.

However, within the idea of 'signs' comes 'Iconic' which is how close a sign is to the real thing, eg. an animation of a dog for example would be iconic as it will show very similar characteristics to a real dog but scribbled drawing of a black and white dog would be much less iconic.

Within this also comes 'Arbitrary' or 'Symbolic' which is the total apposite of Iconic, therefore how far away the sign is from the real thing or reality. An example of this would be the dogs name which has no resemblence to the animal what so ever.

Then comes..

Paradigm: a set of signs to be used in a context (e.g. seaside, skyline)

Syntagm: the particular selection of signs (from the paradigm) (e.g. coastal landscape, night sky, two people kissing etc..)

ICONIC OR ARBITRARY?


Images also has denotations -what the sign is and connotations- what it suggest to the viewer.

Myth- the world view the imagine implies, the idea of the 'thing'

For example:

DENOTATION- two young kids on a street, the girl is laughing at the boy

CONNOTATION- two, wealthy children in the middle of the street. wealth is shown by the way they are dressed- boy is dressed in a suit with a hat and carrying an
instrument

MYTH- boy is from a wealthy background due to his clothing