The following paper explores a brief explanation and in-depth demonstration of semiotics or semiology, and how it is used in everyday life, it will present a semiotic analysis of a particular work chosen by myself to use as an example or demonstration. In short, semiotics is, according to theorist Pieter J. Fourie, "the science of signs and codes and the meanings they convey." (2009:41) Semiotics embraces four principals of study, namely the sign, sign systems, codes and meaning. These principals are the main stepping stones used to conceptualize or categories thoughts and findings in semiotics. Fourie continues to explain (2009:42) that, "a sign is not reality but replaces reality or an aspect or concept of reality so there is a substitute …show more content…
1 Athi-Patra Ruga, The Night of The Long Knives. 2013. Archival ink-jet print on Photorag Baryta. 150 × 190 cm. Edition of 5 + 2AP. (Artsy.net 2018) I will be analysing 3-5 particular elements of the work that are particularly striking, with reference to the visual code, its signifier, what is being signified and to what extent. The first and foremost response I can give, is based on the lighting of the image. Lighting being our visual code and the signifier is what kind of lighting is particularly visible in this work. We would call the lighting in this work Chiaroscuro or Rembrandt lighting, which according to Gertruida M. Du Plooy, is when "(c)ertain areas are illuminated, whereas others are left either in semi- or complete darkness." and is known to have a "dramatic and compositional use of contrasts of light, shadows and half tones." (Du Plooy.2009:151) When analysing the lighting in this photograph, it was found that the selected lighting creates an intense contrast, giving one a sense of drama, or a theatrical sense of the piece. This is noted because one can see that this image has been staged and that the lighting was done in a …show more content…
This means that when the objects near the frame are falling out of the frame or 'shot', it surrounds the figure within the focal point. And in the case of this photograph, the plants & three other figures are surrounding the centred figure on the zebra. The plants are pulled out of the frame and so this creates a tension around the centre. The plants are also clustered and therefore adds a high visual weight to the
The appealing factor of this paintings comes from its message and juxtaposition of colours and stroke
The changes in lighting creates the feeling as if this is happening in two different places when in reality the characters are quite close together on the stage. The characters in this scene are coming to terms with their realities, and the lighting not only highlights the action, but also represents their own process of
In the representation, illumination of facial features are created by all the symbols and images that the person is made up of because it exemplifies the morals and characteristics of the person, but when the drawings and symbols are peeled away, the face is all saliently white, showing how there is no character or depth behind those drawings. This represents how people are now just made of the themes consumerism and materialism because they have no personality and morals anymore and that they are dehumanised and unidentified as a person. This shows the ideas portrayed in the poem as the family that it focuses on always wants more than what they have and how their main goal isn’t their care for their child, but to win money and spend it. The
Viewing the painting, brightens the light in the artwork. There is a sense of reality as the light seems to move through the clouds. The faces of the characters are shown by light and there is an effect of light moving by walking in front of the scene. Emotions are evoked when one looks at this scene. There is a state of protection and safety.
As I was watching “Frankenstein" performed by Johnny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch and "Run for Your Wife," by Ray Cooney, it got me thinking on how they used lighting to its greatest effect. Despite having completely different theatre genres, both plays managed to create diverse moods through their use of lighting techniques. I was intrigued by this aspect as it became evident that different kinds of light can impact the audience's feelings when they're watching a performance. The creation of an excellent play involves countless components, with lighting being one of the most pivotal elements. The significance of lighting in stage productions can be traced back to as far as the early Greek and Roman times, emphasizing how lighting has
In the painting there is a great detail that is shown. The tassels on the bed and the way the curtain falls gives a textural component to the painting. The artist also chose to use vertical repetitive lines in the tiles, and the tassels are feminine. There is also a slight curve in her body shape and her backbone, and her voluptuous yet curvy silhouette that shows femininity. Her legs overlapping each other, turban on her head and having her
The painting is oil on canvas and contains an extensive amount of contrast. For example, the bright vermillion blanket against the dull eggshell colored door. The disparity between the colors used is prominent. Additionally, the fusion of ornate patterns and simplistic solids is evident. The tablecloth is a geometric mixture of cream and periwinkle.
Aside from the stage, a warm, red lighting engulfed the remainder of the room, allowing me to see the scan rest of the room. The walls were decorated with strange portraits of what looked like Ancient Greece, and were scattered across the walls. Another section of the wall had a constellation looking portrait that was illuminated with alternating red and blue lights. Despite all of the colored lighting, the feeling in the room was still generally calm and calming. It was easy to observe the general age of the room, the majority of the audience looked to be in their late 20s’, and all their curious faces were directed at me as I walked inside.
This piece is important because it is exceptional compared to well-known artists. It has an philosophical interpretation that can relate to viewers’ lives. It is visually unusual compared to other art because it does not have a specific subject, and the crypticness is fascinating because it has viewers thinking deeply about its meaning as they begin to understand the visuals. It is a substantial piece of art because if one is having a difficult time in life, one can glance at The Deep and feel a sense of comfort of not feeling
Semiotic Analysis Essay Of a print advertisement Emelie Johansson CIU210 SAE Dubai Institute Media’s central role in our modern society, have become a sort of reference to how we make sense of our existence's and the world we are living in. Advertising companies are selling themselves in the best way possible through their marketing and are apart of the distorted picture we have of what’s real and normal. Even though we know how advertising tries to affect us, and we try not to believe it, we are being “manipulated” by the advertising we are exposed to. Melanie Dempsey and Andrew Mitchel did a study for the magazine ”journal of Consumer research” to show how much advertising really affect us without our knowledge.
This has led them to create “signs” and “signs systems” such as language. The study of these signs and what exactly do people perceive as the meaning behind those signs is called semiotics. Semiotics attempts to solve the question that: what is X? X can be anything from a lyric of a song or a dialogue in a play. It can have various different meanings as perceived by the audience.
In this art called American Gothic done by Grant Wood, the viewer can see how the artist creates a dull, but impressive painting. At first look at this artwork, the the viewer’s attention is directed towards the man wearing the dark coat. The viewer also sees a women which could be seen as the man’s wife, daughter, or friend. As the viewer looks at the background of the painting they can see that these people are probably living on a farm. With this painting having many differents forms, the viewer gets to see a piece of art that seems convincingly real.
The contrast of light and dark, the vivid display of colourisation, and the hard-fought emotion portrayed in this piece forces the viewer to have thoughts of rebellion and discontent against societal
The portrait represents the beauty of the time period. It holds simplistic colors with detailed shading. The artwork is very intriguing to me. I love the detail in the background, there are tiny brushstrokes that makes up the mountains and sky. Also, I find the shading of the mouth and eyes very interesting.
Structuralism and Semiotics Structuralism & semiotics, the general study of signs which developed from the structuralist program, have a complex theory of the way signs work but, in essence, we may say that the categories of meaning (words) are comprised in a system of binary oppositions: white & black, body & mind, the sacred & the profane, individual & collectivity. We are engaged, then, in the study of signs & sign systems. Structuralism analyzes society & elements of society via binary oppositions that it sees as essential to the way the brain works. Post structuralism, on the other hand, sees this binary dualism as an aspect of Western thought & not universal. For postmodernism, meaning & the categories of thought are shifting & unstable.