This document provides a synopsis of a reaction paper written by Chia Wee Min about the reading "Semiotics and Architecture: Ideological Consumption or Theoretical Work" by Diana Agrest and Mario Gandelsonas. The reading discusses architectural ideology and theory, and compares semiotics to language. Specifically, it explains how architectural theory grows from but opposes ideological beliefs, and how Saussure's concept of the sign as composed of signifier and signified is similar to the semantic triangle model of relationships between thought, symbol, and image. The synopsis agrees that the theories discussed can still be applied today.

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE ANDURBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2015) [5 MARKS]
NAME: CHIA WEE MIN ID: 0315186
LECTURER: NICHOLAS NG TUTORIAL TIME: 4pm to 6pm
SYNOPSIS NO: 2 READER TITLE: SEMIOTICS AND ARCHITECTURE IDEOLOGICAL CONSUMPTION OR
THEORITICAL WORK
AUTHOR: DIANA AGREST AND MARIO GANDELSONAS
Based on "Semiotics and Architecture: Ideological Consumption or Theoretical Work " Agrest discussed about the
architectural ideology, architectural theory and the comparison of semiotics and other elements such as language and
economy.
Architectural theory, it grows out of architectural ideology and at the same time is in radical opposition to it said
Agrest. Architecturaltheoryuse architecturalideologywithno realor concretethingsbutbeliefsas a concept and performed
it in an oppositeway. Forexample,beforemodernism,ornamentisbeliefas luxury the moreornamenteda buildingthemore
luxuryit is. But, duringmodernism,thesame ornament is discussed but the result is different. " Forms follow function" is the
main principle during modernism and it asserts that form should be simplified that the design should bear no unnecessary
ornaments than is necessary to function. Modernist believe that ornaments should follow the structure and purpose of the
building thus ornaments have no longer have the meaning of luxuryduring modernism. This shows how the architectural
theory is derived from architectural ideologybut at the same time is in radical opposition to it.
Otherthan that, the comparisonbetweensemioticandlanguageisdiscussed.Based on Saussure, semiotics is the
scienceofdifferentsystem of sign andlanguagesystem is only oneof the various system. Hesaid that the conceptofsign is
composed of signifier, acoustic image and signified, the concept and signification as the relation linking signifier and
signified. Saussure concept of sign is similar to "Semantic Triangle" created byOgden and Richards involved relationship
between thought, symbol and image. The thought in Semantic Triangle can represents signification, symbol represents
signifier and the image as signified. Saussure said the he opposed the concept of traditional semantics, semantic triangle,
but both of the theories stated that the linkage between the three elements cannot be breakdown for the sign to operate
correctly. The onlydifference is the medium used to conveythe message.
In a nutshell,I agree onwhat Agrest andGandelsonashaddiscussedaboutonarchitectural theoryis derived from
architecturalideologybyin oppositewayand comparisonofsemiotic andlanguage and this theories still can be used in our
current context.
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