A few days ago in class we learned about semiotics.
Semiotics is simply put a study of signs. That is a very broad definition so to
sum up we learn it is a sign, symbol, index, or icon that over time if people
accept it then it becomes the visual definition of the idea. The idea after accepted would communicate the
drawing or photograph to mean a word or expression that the original viewer was
trying to get the others to understand. For example, a simple apple we know to
be a fruit was used as an icon to sell a product. A technology company wanted
to sell applications or electronic services to people. The company took what people
were used to, a student gives a teacher and apple, and they turned the little
icon of an apple into a symbol to mean their applications. People familiar to
that index or link, caught on and if they wanted to buy it would get that
product. A simple icon or photograph of an apple represented a product of a
company and without that icon people may not have connected to the product.
People also used semiotics to get across to people what was
right under their nose, but for some reason they didn't notice. Banksy for
instance did that very thing, as he was a street artist and he spray painted,
stenciled, and pasted things on streets and walls. Doing what was presumed
illegal to show another world of art and ideas that existed beyond the common
art of today, he establishes interconnectivity with the community with his
arts. What people didn't realize was the controversial issues and self-expressions
that the street artist put on the wall. Albeit, Banksy and other street artists
chose a very risky way of expressing themselves, they spray painted symbols and
icons of their opinions in a place where everyone could see. This forced people
to look at the problems of today or to see things that they never would have
even thought of.
The best part in my opinion of his life and what he does is
that he remains unknown to the public, with the exceptions for a few people.
That leads focus to solely on Banksy’s art to express his identity and the
thoughts chosen to share with the world. It’s such a mystery as to why he does
this but some of his work along with others made an existence
for street art very physical. The more street art we see the more accepted it
becomes. It would also be safe to say that it’s becoming a symbol for a new era
of art that brings new language through icons and indexes (links to art). A lot
of our daily technology is using more semiotics to communicate to our daily
needs. A lot of therapist may lose their jobs due to people putting their
problems on Facebook. Just kidding, but a common semiotic we use to associate
that website is a simple thumbs up.
A golden M or two golden arches put together associate us to
fast food (McDonalds). As it was said in the documentary Exit through the Gift
Shop “Semiotics speaks a language everyone knows.” It’s becoming our daily
language as we use cellphone emoticons to get our points across. With the social media steady increasing and
our growing familiarity to semiotics, it will not be long before it will be
used in everything we do in art and business. All I know is that semiotics
pushing the boundaries of what we consider art and what we don’t consider. Let
watch as a new world of art form before us and we have semiotics to thank for
it.
