[Week 8] Lecture 3: "Visual Semiotics Part.1"

Hi all :D

This week Mr.Choy gave us a lecture about visual semiotics. To be honest, I didn't really understand what it is so I had to research it again myself haha.

I found the definition of 'Visual Semiotics' and it says : Visual semiotics is a sub-domain of semiotics that analyses the way visual images communicate a message. Also, it's generally described as the 'study of signs'

Three Important Principles When Analysing Semiotic System:

- Semioticians believe all people see the world through signs

- The meaning of sign is created by people and does not exist separately from them and the life of the social/cultural community

- Semiotic system provides people with a variety of resources for making meaning

Mr.Choy also explained about 'THEORY'.

Theory :

-the word theory stems from the greek word “theoria “

-to reflect, observe, view; dictionary describes it as a system of things, explanation of abstract principles whether in science or art

-It can be speculative or deductive of based on specific hypothesis

-it also can be based on evidences and data

Two Famous Semioticians :

<Peirce>

-Charles Sanders Pierce 1839-1914

-American philosopher

<Saussure>

-Ferdinand de Saussure 1857-1913 (Saussure’s model)

-Swiss professor of linguistics

-Accoriding to Saussure, language is constructed from a small set of units called phonemes

-Saussure offered a 'dyadic' or two-part model of the sign.

He defined a sign as being composed of: a 'signifier' (signifiant) - the form which the sign takes; and the 'signified' (signifié) - the concept it represents.