Semiotics

Fig.1 Fig.2

the first sign that I have chosen to analyse is an image of a simple representation of a man. The image is in black and is commonly drawn on a white background.This image is the signifier. The signified however, is an indication of a public male restroom. this sign falls under the category of a 'symbol' as there no logical link between the sign and the meaning.The image does not include pictures of a man going to a toilet, but only a simple figure. The signifier or the sign which is deconotative is the image shown above(fig.1) somehow signifies the indication of a toilet. The reason being for this doconnoation is because this is a well known and recognised sign that is understood on an international scale.Similarly, the second image (Fig.2) is also a symbol. Although the sign is more complicated than the first one, it still operates in the same way. As the shape itself has not logical link to what it represents. The signifier is the image of a circle with four lines going across the shape and this signifies peace. The sign is often made in a simple colour but is also soemtimes filled in with a rainbow colour.This image is originally a symbol for a campaign for Nuclear disarmament. However, the symbol is now well acknowledged around the world and everyone agrees to accept it as a sign of preace. Therefore the connotation of this sign is infact 'peace' or even 'hippies'. The rainbow colour in this context supports the meaning/use of this sign and they are often placed in the same context signifying the meaning 'peace'. Peace demonstrators use this to identify themselves eventhough the demonstration are not neccessarily for a nuclear disarmament campaign but any 'peace' campaign in general.