Today's excellent principle lecture by Spencer Roberts provided guidance and introduction to the field of Semiotics (also referred to as 'semiology' in Europe (under the origin of Saussure or 'Semiotics' is a result of one of it's foundations in the USA - CS Pearce).
The lecture was perfectly timely for our own Project 6, Reading and Responding, as it provided the key contemporary views to help read, and therefore gain 'a view' or an opinion, of the meaning of a image or text. (As discussed previously, an image of an object (s) is in itself able to be a text... It can have the direct meaning, or an implied meaning and so can be read equally as a sign therefore).
I have already had some exposure to the concepts of Semiotics, through access to the book, "Visible Signs; An Introduction to Semiotics" by David Crow, April 2007 | ISBN-10: 2940373213 | ISBN-13: 978-2940373215 - Although I am aware that there may now be a later edition, which I would thoroughly recommend.
This is a great reference book that I began to read and take some interest in during our initial project on Identities. Having had some time to reflect on my earlier readings of this publication, it is clear that there is a huge field of study related to Semiotics, and equally, a huge number of theories, hypothesis, antithesis and synthesis of these thories. The subject is truly vast and plays an extremely significant part of our complex daily lives. Reading, and responding, takes place in all manner of moments, from a simple day-dream like gaze out of a bus window and onto a panoramic view or scene; or to looking at a person's shoes before commencing a conversation perhaps, or in a more modern context, in reading and responding to advertising images, both intentional, and unintentional.
Spencer delivered a thoroughly engaging lecture. It was essential to concentrate on the subject matter that Spencer was delivering, I sensed perhaps that quite a few peers and fellow students may have been somewhat lost, which is, in itself, a Reading and Responding interpretation from my view of events.
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