[FIRST YEAR] Animation Context
Covered today:
Today I thought I was going to should my 360 degree challenge but as I missed last weeks lesson I missed out but that is an advantage as I can use some of the information in that presentation to help me with the final assignment where I've got to make that poster for real to be graded. To see my presentation go to last week [LINK here]
At the start of the lecture we first looked at a more simple version of the Gibb's reflective cycle to make my blog post add more depth and volume.
At the start of the lecture we first looked at a more simple version of the Gibb's reflective cycle to make my blog post add more depth and volume.
After recapping the topic 'Gibb's reflective cycle', we talked about acticle 13 from the govenment. [NEED TO FIND RESEARCH]
Today we dipped our toes into the world of semiotics, the study of signs and symbols.
This is only an introduction to the subject matter and the topic of semiotics will be a recurring theme as I progress through my animation degree course and as I strive to move from looking to seeing.
Today we dipped our toes into the world of semiotics, the study of signs and symbols.
This is only an introduction to the subject matter and the topic of semiotics will be a recurring theme as I progress through my animation degree course and as I strive to move from looking to seeing.
The terms that were introduced today were:
A Sign is the smallest unit of communication. This can be a word, a film shot, a facial expression, a noise, a thing (like a teddy bear). For purposes, the sign is the building blocks of communication. It can be just about anything such as a word, image, facial expression, noise, or a thing that people use to convey meaning. In order to help us get a handle on things, the picture below will be of a Teddy Bear and it will serves as one of the signs that we will work with in this blog post.
A sign consists of the signifier and the signified.
Signifier is a sign's physical form (such as a sound, printed word, or image) as distinct from its meaning. (The thing that is perceived)
Signified is the meaning or idea expressed by a sign, as distinct from the physical form in which it is expressed. (The meaning of a given sign by the beholder)
Now, one the one had, the image we see above was an ordinary brown teddy bear; nothing more, and nothing less. Yet when we take a look at it in terms of semiotics we uncover that the sign consists of several elements: The signifier (in this case the teddy bear) and the Signified: the meaning the viewer packs onto the Teddy Bear.
In order to get a handle on that, the picture below will be of the same Teddy Bear and as you look at the image what comes to mind when you see this image. It's your mind, so what comes to your mind is correct. My images of childhood (from recollections of me getting my first ever Teddy Bear when I was 1 and still having it to cuddle up to for at least 19 years)are just as vaild a signified image as any other image.
Connotative and denotative
A sign consists of the signifier and the signified.
Signifier is a sign's physical form (such as a sound, printed word, or image) as distinct from its meaning. (The thing that is perceived)
Signified is the meaning or idea expressed by a sign, as distinct from the physical form in which it is expressed. (The meaning of a given sign by the beholder)
Now, one the one had, the image we see above was an ordinary brown teddy bear; nothing more, and nothing less. Yet when we take a look at it in terms of semiotics we uncover that the sign consists of several elements: The signifier (in this case the teddy bear) and the Signified: the meaning the viewer packs onto the Teddy Bear.
In order to get a handle on that, the picture below will be of the same Teddy Bear and as you look at the image what comes to mind when you see this image. It's your mind, so what comes to your mind is correct. My images of childhood (from recollections of me getting my first ever Teddy Bear when I was 1 and still having it to cuddle up to for at least 19 years)are just as vaild a signified image as any other image.
What is the Signifier?
What is the Sigified?
If I looked at this image again the signified what would come to mind would be when I was young, small and had something there to protect me from the monsters.
There are many signs and meaning out there for everyone and they would be different for everyone. People have different memories and emotional backgrounds making their meaning different to my meaning.
A similar sign can communicate a significantly different sets of ideas. The fun thing about signs is that even similar things can communicate substantially different meanings. In next image we will see a different Teddy Bear. It has a pink heart, it's holding. It's pink all over but it's the same shape has the other one. Nevertheless, when you see it, the Teddy Bear may signify different qualities to you.
What is the Signifier?
What is the Sigified?
As you did with the image for the brown bear, what comes to mind when you see this Teddy Bear what does it signify to you.
By studying semiotics we can learn to annotate and thoroughly understand the systems of communication through signs.
"Semiotics is the study of how things (more specifically people, photographs, signs, artwork or objects) use gestures, communicate, behave, and present particular ideas or how others may interpret them" (Danesi 1999,2).
Denotative meaning is the specific or exact meaning.
While connotative meaning explores the unseen signs which we use to decipher visual encounters.
The primary task of semiotics is observing and documenting how the words many systems of everyday life provide different scripts for social living (Danesi 1999,16).
"In most situations semiotics both denotation and connotation involve the use of codes" (Chandler 2002,140)
Semiotics is with no doubt a simplistic way of understanding ideas concepts and content presented within a visual text or given interaction.
Mythologies
"Semiotics is the study of how things (more specifically people, photographs, signs, artwork or objects) use gestures, communicate, behave, and present particular ideas or how others may interpret them" (Danesi 1999,2).
Denotative meaning is the specific or exact meaning.
While connotative meaning explores the unseen signs which we use to decipher visual encounters.
The primary task of semiotics is observing and documenting how the words many systems of everyday life provide different scripts for social living (Danesi 1999,16).
"In most situations semiotics both denotation and connotation involve the use of codes" (Chandler 2002,140)
Semiotics is with no doubt a simplistic way of understanding ideas concepts and content presented within a visual text or given interaction.
Mythologies
Cultural Interpretation/Bias
Examples
Lucas Cranach- Temptation in Eden
Red rose = Love
Apple = Wisdom, Temptation, knowledge
Connotative and Denotative
Mythologies (Barthes)
Cultural Interpretation/Bias
Individually
The texts we addressed today in lesson were:
Lucas Cranach the Elder (c.1472-1553). Temptation in EdenRolandBarthesFerdinand de Saussure
Painting by René Magritte - The Treachery of Images
This Means This, This Means That: A User's Guide to Semiotics Book by Sean Hall
PEOPLE WATCHING - Body Language. Book by Desmond Morris
Before Next Week
Before next week I will need to read the academic text - Story-building techniques for animation using the power of symbolism and semiotics to increase narrative depth and meaning.
I will need to find examples to share next week of 'The City in the sky' as I discussed in the classroom today.
Lucas Cranach the Elder (c.1472-1553). Temptation in EdenRolandBarthesFerdinand de Saussure
Painting by René Magritte - The Treachery of Images
This book tells you a lot about the world of semiotics but it's hard to get your head round.
Hall, S. (2007). This means this, this means that: A user's guide to semiotics. London: Laurence King.
PEOPLE WATCHING - Body Language. Book by Desmond Morris
Before Next Week
Before next week I will need to read the academic text - Story-building techniques for animation using the power of symbolism and semiotics to increase narrative depth and meaning.
I will need to find examples to share next week of 'The City in the sky' as I discussed in the classroom today.
