It's official, we have sold the house and are finally moving to the Mainland UK. I will be taking a few month off OCA study in order to move the house and study towards the Life in UK test to get my British citizenship. I shall be back at the end of April!
Thursday 18 December 2014
Thursday 11 December 2014
Research point - Semiotics
Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, in photography it involves the reading of a picture and its meaning. It is the interpretation of the photograph rather than its translation.
As photographers and/or viewers of photography we must consider the representation and therefore what a photographer attempts to represent with the photograph. Ferdinand de Saussure, the Swiss inventor of the theory of semiotics argued that a written and visual language is based on a system of signs composed of 'a signifier' (the form which the sign takes) and 'the signified' (the concept it represents). An American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, who also developed a theory on semiotics used a three part model based around 'the representamen' (the form that the sign takes; not necessarily material), 'an interpretant' (the sense made of the sign) and 'an object' (to which the sign refers).
There are a few significant points in the understanding of semiotics, i.e the signifier does not resemble the signified in relation to a symbol, the relationship between the two is based on our knowledge and therefore it must be learnt. Here perhaps it is worth mentioning such questions as subjectivity and cultural differences, the elements crucial for decoding a photograph, questions raised by Roland Barthes, the French literary theorist, philosopher and semiotician in his book 'Camera Lucida'. Icons on the other hand are a little different, as the signifier resembles or imitates the signified. Further to this we must also remember about indexicality, in which case a signifier is physically connected to the signified, i.e. smoke indicates fire or heat, tears sadness, etc.
As photographers and/or viewers of photography we must consider the representation and therefore what a photographer attempts to represent with the photograph. Ferdinand de Saussure, the Swiss inventor of the theory of semiotics argued that a written and visual language is based on a system of signs composed of 'a signifier' (the form which the sign takes) and 'the signified' (the concept it represents). An American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, who also developed a theory on semiotics used a three part model based around 'the representamen' (the form that the sign takes; not necessarily material), 'an interpretant' (the sense made of the sign) and 'an object' (to which the sign refers).
There are a few significant points in the understanding of semiotics, i.e the signifier does not resemble the signified in relation to a symbol, the relationship between the two is based on our knowledge and therefore it must be learnt. Here perhaps it is worth mentioning such questions as subjectivity and cultural differences, the elements crucial for decoding a photograph, questions raised by Roland Barthes, the French literary theorist, philosopher and semiotician in his book 'Camera Lucida'. Icons on the other hand are a little different, as the signifier resembles or imitates the signified. Further to this we must also remember about indexicality, in which case a signifier is physically connected to the signified, i.e. smoke indicates fire or heat, tears sadness, etc.
Saturday 6 December 2014
Exercise - Analyse Martin Shields photograph
Analyse Martin Shields photograph of two young footballers. What are denotations and connotations of this image?
Denotation of the image stands for its literal meaning, it is what we see on the photograph, connotation on the other hand attaches a further meaning, going beyond what is seen.
First and foremost we see a couple of boys, obviously just after a football game or on their way to a game (judging by their clean outfits, it could be the latter), or perhaps the different kits tells us that they support different teams, they are walking hand in hand, in an obvious friendship. They are surrounded by derelict houses, the landscape in the photo seems very neglected.
Going beyond the obvious and concentrating on the connotations of the image, I can't help to wonder if the innocent friendship in this very basic environment will soon be over or maybe just improved? Will the derelict houses be pulled down and a better, newer place will be built, perhaps the youngsters are marching together towards an improved future or marching away from a place where innocent play is still allowed? The boys could also represent the two opposites coming together, two rivals ending up in a friendship?
The second part of this exercise involved reading the actual article the image was produced for. 'Glasgow tenants vote to sell off council housing' - in 2002 article from The Independent we learn that 83,000 council homes were transferred to a private housing association following a public vote. The predicted result was to be a major improvement in the living conditions in some of the worst areas of Glasgow. On the other hand, the opponents of the scheme were worried about the high rises in rent and further financial complications following the transfer.
My initial review of the photograph was therefore correct, with the exception of the final paragraph commenting on the enemies coming together.
Denotation of the image stands for its literal meaning, it is what we see on the photograph, connotation on the other hand attaches a further meaning, going beyond what is seen.
First and foremost we see a couple of boys, obviously just after a football game or on their way to a game (judging by their clean outfits, it could be the latter), or perhaps the different kits tells us that they support different teams, they are walking hand in hand, in an obvious friendship. They are surrounded by derelict houses, the landscape in the photo seems very neglected.
Going beyond the obvious and concentrating on the connotations of the image, I can't help to wonder if the innocent friendship in this very basic environment will soon be over or maybe just improved? Will the derelict houses be pulled down and a better, newer place will be built, perhaps the youngsters are marching together towards an improved future or marching away from a place where innocent play is still allowed? The boys could also represent the two opposites coming together, two rivals ending up in a friendship?
The second part of this exercise involved reading the actual article the image was produced for. 'Glasgow tenants vote to sell off council housing' - in 2002 article from The Independent we learn that 83,000 council homes were transferred to a private housing association following a public vote. The predicted result was to be a major improvement in the living conditions in some of the worst areas of Glasgow. On the other hand, the opponents of the scheme were worried about the high rises in rent and further financial complications following the transfer.
My initial review of the photograph was therefore correct, with the exception of the final paragraph commenting on the enemies coming together.
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