on the strength of signifieds

On the Strength of Signifieds

…but first a quick review…

Three ways signs represent objects

• Symbol

• Icon

• Index

Three ways signs represent objects

• Symbol– Arbitrary or purely conventional– 100% needs to be learned– language in general, alphabet, punctuation marks,

numbers, Morse code, traffic lights

• Icon– Resembling or imitating the signified– similar in some quality– portrait, cartoon, onomatopoeia, metaphors, sound effects

imitative gestures

• Index– existential connection to the signified– evidence, smoke, footprints, pain, thermometer,

clock, knock on a door, photograph, handwriting,

What are some Symbols?

WordsWordsWords

What are some Icons?

“Chirp chirp”“miu miu”“vroooom”

What are some Indices?(plural of index)


• Iconic (associative)

• Indexical (authentic)

• Symbolic (historical)

Strength of Signifieds: Iconic

Strength of Signifieds

Strength of Signifieds: Iconic

Strength of Signifieds: Indexical

Strength of Signifieds: Indexical

• In 1991 Four LA police officers were videotaped restraining and repeatedly striking a black man, while four to six other officers stand by.

• Video was broadcast worldwide• No part of the tape that shows Mr. King attacking the

officers, as some have claimed.• King had also been tasered by the officers.• The resulting public outrage increased anger over police

brutality and issues such as unemployment, racial tension, and poverty in the black community of South Central Los Angeles.

• The four officers were tried in a state court for using excessive force, but were acquitted, due to a hung jury.

• The announcement of the acquittals sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Strength of Signifieds: Symbolic

on the strength of signifieds

Documents

symbolicstrength of

strength of signifiedson

strength of signifiedsbut

la police officers

los angeles riots

quick reviewthree ways

police brutality

black man