Many so-called “theories of everything” leave out the concepts that are the focus of this study: “He is Dead, and He is Continuing to Die: A Feminist Psycho-Semiotic Reflection on Men’s Embodiment of Metaphor in a Toronto Zombie Walk,” Bryce Peake [pictured here], Journal of Contemporary Anthropology, vol. 1, no. 1, 2010. The author, a […]
Tag: semiotics
Smooth bodywork in cars and women
Some have asked questions along the lines of : ‘Is smoothness a semiotic resource in which consumption-oriented superficiality interfaces with ideologically gendered images of women and cars on magazine covers?’ Take for example Dr. Mehita Iqani, who is a Senior Lecturer in Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and who […]
Potato chip authenticity in the USA
In America, potato chips carry more than grease and salt. They carry meaning. That’s the message carried by this new study: “Authenticity in America: Class Distinctions in Potato Chip Advertising,” Joshua Freedman and Dan Jurafsky [pictured here], Gastronomica, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Winter 2012), pp. 46-54. The authors explain: “Our study uses the language of […]
Semiotics Exercise: Fat Ladies in Spaaaaace
This month’s Semiotics Exercise is to write a 50-word semiotic interpretation of the imagery and title of the book Fat Ladies in Spaaaaace. It must be exactly 50 words long, but can be in the language of your choice. Here is a photo of the book cover: [via @KateHarding] BONUS EXERCISE: Write a 55-word semiotic interpretation […]
Germany vs. China culture icons
Liu Young, who was born in China and educated in Germany, drew some icons to show differences between the cultures. Here are examples. (Thanks to Cathy Caldwell-Harris for showing these to us.) Anger:
Beware! Feeble warning signs!
From New Scientist‘s Feedback column: LIKE reader Jerry Huxtable, Feedback is puzzled by the proliferation of feeble warning signs. Jerry points to a sign on a door at London’s Paddington train station with a yellow and black warning triangle and exclamation mark next to the legend “Low Voltage”. He also cites the Hilton hotel in […]