Chapter 2 : The Nature of Representation
representation - a process through which people make something that expresses an interest in some particular aspect of something else and that is motivated by both context and intent
- expressions of intangible ideas, concepts, or feelings in some physical form - communicate info about tangible object, people, places in a different physical form sign - the most basic unit of representation; something that stands for something else arbitrariness - correspondence between the sign and its meaning is not an inherent property of the sign itself, but is a matter of cultural agreement 3 Theoretical Approaches to explaining the concept (Stuart Hall): 1. Reflective Approach - the meaning of something is inherent and the language system reflects what is already there - would not be able to communicate through metaphors or about things not seen 2. Intentional Approach - meaning is imposed on the representation - if this were true, we would be able to communicate entirely through private languages with the assumption that the other person understood the sign association 3. Constructionist Approach - the meaning is shaped partially by the social practices around it semantic networks - fields of related meanings/associations connotation - additional invoked meaning, second-level meaning denotation - literal meaning, usually avoids metaphor prototype - "best example" of a category: central member to a category that it contains most or all the characteristics that define the category analogous - representation that is natural or physically resembles what it stands for - the photograph vector - dynamic forces or tensions among participants in a visual composition - may be visible or implied - text and image directionals playing with one another/mimicking Propaganda - a form of communication aimed at influencing opinion or inciting actions Tactics - uniting those who hold a similar belief, reward for holding the same opinion as others and not being different - punishment - warning of the consequences of holding a certain opinion - associating "rightness" with a position |