This Means This, This Means That

by Hall, Sean

• ISBN13: 9781856697354
• ISBN10: 1856697355
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-07
• Publisher: HACHETTE

Summary

Semiotics is the theory of signs, and reading signs is a part of everyday life: from road signs that point to a destination, to smoke that warns of fire, to the symbols buried within art and literature. Semiotic theory can, however, appear mysterious and impenetrable. This introductory book decodes that mystery using visual examples instead of abstract theory. This new edition features an expanded introduction that carefully and clearly presents the world of semiotics, before leading into the book's 76 sections of key semiotic concepts. Each short section begins with a single image or sign, accompanied by a question inviting us to interpret what we are seeing. Turning the page, we can compare our response with the theory behind the sign, and in this way, actively engage in creative thinking. A fascinating read, this book provides practical examples of how meaning is made in contemporary culture.

Author Biography

Sean Hall is Deputy Head of Department and Leader in Contextual. Studies in the Department of Design at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He was formerly a lecturer in Philosophy at Balliol College, Oxford. As a practicing artist, he has exhibited at the VA, the Royal Academy, and the Whitechapel Gallery.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 5
Acknowledgments	p. 20
Signs and Signing	p. 21
Signifier and Signified	p. 23
Sign	p. 25
Icon	p. 27
Index	p. 29
Symbol	p. 31
Sender	p. 33
Intention	p. 35
Message	p. 37
Transmission	p. 39
Noise	p. 41
Receiver	p. 43
Destination	p. 45
Feedback	p. 47
Ways of Meaning	p. 49
Simile	p. 51
Metaphor	p. 53
Metonym	p. 55
Synecdoche	p. 57
Irony	p. 59
Lies	p. 61
Impossibility	p. 63
Depiction	p. 65
Representation	p. 67
Conceptual Structures	p. 69
Truth and Falsity	p. 71
Sameness and Difference	p. 73
Wholes and Parts	p. 75
Subjectivity and Objectivity	p. 77
Appearance and Reality	p. 79
Continuity and Discontinuity	p. 81
Sense and Reference	p. 83
Meaningful and Meaningless	p. 85
Problem and Solution	p. 87
Visual Structures	p. 89
Viewer and Image	p. 91
Ideal and Real	p. 93
Given and New	p. 95
Center and Margin	p. 97
Foreground and Background	p. 99
Proximity and Presence	p. 101
Before and After	p. 103
Past, Present, and Future	p. 105
Fast and Slow	p. 107
Textual Structures	p. 109
Readers and Texts	p. 111
Words and Images	p. 113
Functions	p. 115
Forms	p. 117
Placing	p. 119
Prominence	p. 121
Voices	p. 123
Intertextuality and Intratextuality	p. 125
Paratext and Para language	p. 127
Matters of Interpretation	p. 129
Concepts and Conceptions	p. 131
Connotation and Denotation	p. 133
Langue and Parole	p. 135
Combinations and Substitutions	p. 137
Tokens and Types	p. 139
Rule-following	p. 141
Conventions	p. 143
Classifications	p. 145
Understanding and Misunderstanding	p. 147
Framing Meaning	p. 149
Semantic Units	p. 151
Genres	p. 153
Styles	p. 155
Stereotypes	p. 157
Institutions	p. 159
Ideologies	p. 161
Discourses	p. 163
Myths	p. 165
Paradigms	p. 167
Stories and Storytelling	p. 169
Fact and Fiction	p. 171
Narratives	p. 173
Legends	p. 175
Characters and Personas	p. 177
Viewpoints	p. 179
Mysteries	p. 181
Tensions	p. 183
Turning points	p. 185
Resolutions	p. 187
Conclusion	p. 189
Bibliography	p. 190
Picture Credits	p. 192
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