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28.02.22 Analysing Performance - Signifier and Signified
This document discusses semiotics and structuralism as applied to analyzing performance. It explains that semiotics looks at the relationship between culture, communication, and meaning. It outlines Ferdinand de Saussure's theories of the sign, which is the basic unit of meaning, consisting of the signifier (sensory perception) and the signified (concept or meaning). Meaning occurs through the relationship between the signifier and signified, not inherently within either. Charles Peirce expanded on this, describing three types of relationships between signifier and signified: iconic, where the signifier resembles the signified; indexical, where there is a causal relationship; and symbolic, where the relationship is arbitrary and culturally agreed upon
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28.02.22 Analysing Performance - Signifier and Signified
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- 4. Semiotics Looks atthe relationship between culture and communication – concerned with meaning. Looks at the position of the spectator – in particular; cultural context of relationship between spectator and performer How can you interpret the meaning from performance? Week 5 Analysing Performance Work Choreographer/ Playwright Audience/ Spectator
- 5. Ferdinand de Saussure Swiss Linguist 1875-1913 Father of Structuralism Key work: Course in General Linguistics (Cours de linguistique générale) Takes a synchronic rather than diachronic approach to the study of language Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 6. Synchronic and Diachronic Week5 Analysing Performance Present 2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 Diachronic Synchronic
- 7. Langue and Parole Whatis ‘Structuralist’ about this? Langue and parole translate directly as ‘language and speech’ Langue La langue is the whole system of language that precedes and makes speech possible.A sign is the most basic unit of langue; the system of grammar, syntax and punctuation. Parole Parole is the concrete use of the language, the actual utterances – it is an external manifestation of langue. It is the usage of the system, but not the system Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 8. The Sign Ferdinandde Saussure wanted to break down meaning It is not the meaning itself, it is the method by which we communicate meaning How language means, rather than what language means. The smallest unit of meaning is the sign The sign refers us to a particular object or idea of an object Week 5 Analysing Performance Receiver Sign Object
- 9. The Sign Thesign and the object are culturally agreed. The sign has two aspects: The signifier – this is a sensory perception (a spoken word has an aspect we can hear, a written word has an aspect we can see). The signified – a concept or meaning associated with that sensory perception. A sign to be a sign, needs both aspects, something we sense and something we think, a relationship. Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 10. The Sign Week 5 AnalysingPerformance
- 11.
- 12. The Sign Thereforethe sign depends on three elements: An aspect of it is perceivable to our senses. It refers to something other than itself. It depends on a recognition by its users that it is a sign Something to be learnt – culturally agreed. Meaning occurs in the relationship between the ideas of a sign – there has to be rules, order, sentence structure etc. Meaning is NOT inherent, essential and/or present within any part of the sign Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 13. Structuralism Meaning is theresult of relationship and difference Week 5 Analysing Performance
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- 16. Charles Peirce Anothertheorist who extended on the ideas of Saussure: Charles Peirce – American Philosopher (1839 – 1914) Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 17. Charles Peirce Expandedon the definition of a sign – three different and distinct relationships between the signifier and signified. ICONIC SIGN: Signifier represents or resembles the signified INDEXICAL SIGN: Signifier has a causal relationship to the signified SYMBOLIC SIGN: Signifier has a conventional/arbitrary relationship to the signified Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 18. Iconic Sign Signifierrepresents or resembles the signified Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 19. Indexical Sign Signifierhas a causal relationship to the signified Signifier has an existential relationship to the signifier.The signifier cannot exist without the presence of the signified. Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 20. Symbolic Sign Signifierhas a conventional/ arbitrary relationship to the signified Week 5 Analysing Performance CAT
- 21. So… the type ofrelationship between the signifier and signified (that constitute the sign) can change can be multiple Week 5 Analysing Performance
- 22. So how dowe apply this to reading performance? Week 5 Analysing Performance
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