Social Semiotics
Today, we will be looking at two images through the lens of Social Semiotics. What is Social Semiotics? Well, it is the field of study that examines three things: 1) how signs, symbols, and images are a part of our lives, 2) how meaning is created and then interpreted in different contexts, and 3) the various modes of communication (Green). This would include things like photographs, but also paintings, emojis, street signs, and much more. Social Semiotics was first “discovered” by Michael Halliday, who looked at how signs and symbols contribute to meaning making, and then was later expanded to the field of visual communication by Gunther Kress. Social Semiotics and the field of Visual Communication are important since many signs, symbols, images, etc., can transcend language and culture, giving us an avenue for global connection (among the more obvious benefits, such as the efficiency of communicating, and an enhanced understanding and engagement level). There are two rules in So...
