The Study of Signs and Symbols - Assignment Example

Task The study of signs and symbols, their interpretation and usage is termed as semiotics. Further, the of the book “Signs of Life in the USA” Sonia Maasik and Jack Solomon, name sign as a method to attach a particular meaning to an act, price of information or condition. Moreover, the word signifier denotes to a particular understanding of each sign as it is interpreted. Additionally, the denotation of signs are typically determined by system or codes that seem to be inside. For this reason, the sign is any observed, physical and palpable demonstration of a sigh such as the television show or an advertisement. As well, the signifier and the sign are continuously being used in our modern culture nowadays. Thus, the semiotic method can be used to examine popular culture by inquiring about the sign. The signs direct us to ask queries about its fundamental meaning, hence steering our attention to the system the sign fits and search for related signs that back up our primary hypothesis. Since all is connected, signs hint to one another thus enabling one to view the broad picture and how our culture is affected by them. In the American culture, vampires are so popular since they represent a sense of individuality, immorality, youth, eroticism and an outlaw hero. Thus, the semiotics assists us understand how vampires of in the present day are so popular (Maasik, and Solomon, 2). Task 2 Typical stories at the origin of our life experience are termed as Myths. Additionally, myths are present in all literatures and cultures. However, myths are true stories founded on facts since all of us lives them at some level. In addition, myths connect and speaks to all of us. Some myths are true stories that achieve mythic importance since individuals involved appear superior to life and live their lives more forcefully than ordinary people. While others rotate around make-believe characters who have the potential of capsulizing for us our entire journeys. Additionally, some behaviours depicted by the make-believe might seem similar to characters we encountered in our dreams (Braumoeller, 23). In many hero stories, the hero is usually presented under ordinary circumstances, in a rational world doing ordinary things. Usually, the hero originates as a non-hero looking humble, young and simple however in the course of the story something different enters the hero’s life thus acting as a catalyser setting the story into motion. In many occasions, the hero is not willing to leave, thus termed as a reluctant hero who is uncertain, afraid of the unknown and not sure if he or she is fit for the task. Additionally, the hero frequently receives help from uncommon sources like from witches, old women and many more and through this the hero transforms from being ordinary to extraordinary and begins to achieve his or her goal. Though the hero myth is the most famous story, many myths include the healing myth. In healing stories, some character is destroyed and needs to leave home to develop completely again. Being destroyed can either be psychological, emotional and physical. Thus, in both situations, the myth is the story underneath the story. Archetypes are those characteristics seen in many myth stories. Therefore, the myths are similar in a way since both of their endings are motivated by supernatural powers (Maasik, and Solomon, 387 - 394). Task 3 Advertising is not just about branding parity objects it also entails branding customers as they advertise in different social class communities. Hence, at the higher level, the job of advertising is to persuade various groups of clients or target crowds that the area they observe is someway dissimilar in value and meaning than the same area seen by their adjacent neighbours. Customers are motivated by indescribable things like action, status and principles. According to VALS system customers, are described as: Firstly, there are Actualizers, these individual are placed top of the pyramid and are ideal for advertisers and everyone. Additionally, they take charge and are sophisticated individuals interested in character and independence. Additionally, they don’t need new things, and if they are in need of one they know the best ones hence they need no advice on what to buy. Secondly, we have fulfilled: they are comfortable, satisfied and mature souls who in either way uphold the status quo. They value durability, practicability and functionality and are tired or figuratively. In addition, we have believers; these individuals support old codes of community, family and church. As well, they are foreseeable favouring recognizable brands and American products. For another thing, we have the achievers; they are committed to their jobs as a source of prestige, duty and reward. These individuals don’t just support the establishment but also they are the establishment. Besides that we have the Strivers, an old striver is bitter and nasty but young ones can transform into achievers. Further, the old ones don’t have money and can be branded as long as a product is elevating. Also, we have the experiencers; they are impulsive, reckless and enthusiastic. Their energy finds manifestation in social events, sports and doing something. They are personally and politically uncommitted. Experiencers view consumption as a fulfilment and spend heftily. Also, the makers are the practical side of experiencers. By working on it, they experience the world and then like building things. In addition, they are respectful, conservative and suspicious. Lastly we have Strivers, they are similar to Actualizers. They are chronically poor they use public transport to travel, and they are the invisible millions (Twitchell, 185). Task 4 Gender is usually centred on anatomical dissimilarities between women and men; nevertheless, it does not substantially match by them. Additionally, gender roles can be altered without alterations to biological sex characteristics being made. For this reason, gender is not determined biologically but it is determined culturally and socially. In addition, gender roles can inspire all manners of behaviour such as personal relationships, choice of clothing and choice of work. Ever since childhood, everybody absorbs the widespread morals of society into their individual concept of correct behaviour. History proves to us how entirely our gender originates from social myths about what is good for women and men to do, think and enjoy. As well, throughout adolescence and childhood, gender characteristics that vary from the standard are often the cause of banishment, ridicule and mockery thus resulting in psychological problems. However, some have the capability of camouflaging their dissimilarities while others are not capable. Although individuals have developed tolerantly, there exists some who are not ready to expect things out of the norm thus making the society unable to gain the balance it wants. Further, the clusters of social definitions to identify individuals by gender are collectively known as masculinity and femininity. In accordance to Devor, femininity is characterized by submission and passivity while masculine by aggression and dominance. Gender revolution gives us deliverance from permanent and binary visualization of gender. For instance, woman revolution leads to equality between sexes but we must be aware of losses and gains in the revolution. Equality wipes the definition of gender completely. It has brought about the term unisex which means gender blindness, thus the emergence of gays, lesbians and many more which are not right. Additionally, women have started discriminating men and are taking their roles in society. As a result, we should find balance and harmony in our lives by ensuring everyone recognizes himself and finds out his self-equanimity. Race itself is a greasy social idea that is illogically both invisible and apparent. In our encounter with individuals, the first thing we notice about them is race. We use race to provide answers about who an individual is and how we ought to relate to them. For this reason, our insights of race decide how we present ourselves. This method is often unconscious because it does not function within an examined set of racial beliefs. Racial beliefs explain and account for differences in human nature. Dissimilarities in skin colour and obvious physical appearances allegedly provide noticeable clues to more practical alterations lurking beneath. As a result, thoughts about race have become a common sense – a way of explaining, acting and comprehending in the world. Further, this is made painfully noticeable when somebody upsets our understandings of common sense (Devor, 53). Task 5 According to Omi and Howard (678). Race has frequently established the central themes of American popular cultures. Historian W.L. Rose states that, it is a curious concurrence that four of the highest popular reading-viewing occasions that occurred in the old American times have dealt with the issues of race precisely the affiliation of whites and blacks in the south. The Real American and race social definitions emerged and were reflected during the nineteenth century in the American popular culture. Ethnic and racial stereotypes were reinforced and shaped in the pulp fiction, magazines and newspapers of the period. Nevertheless, the progression and ever accumulative complexity of visual mass communications during the twentieth century delivered the most vivid means by which ethnic images are reproduced and generated. Majority of the earliest American movies deal with ethnic and racial difference. In numerous situations, the western as a genre has been typical in establishing imageries of racial minorities in television and film. Lastly, the potentials for change in perplexing institutional disparities and altering racial stereotypes do not exist. Work cited Devor, Holly. Gender blending: Confronting the limits of duality. Vol. 533. Indiana University Press, 1989. Hughes, Michael O. M. I. T. Blessed Eugene De Mazenod (1782-1861): Spiritual Writings (1794-1811). Rome: General Postulation OMI, 1994. Print. Maasik, Sonia, and J F. Solomon. Signs of Life in the U.s.a: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003. Print. Twitchell, James B. Adcult Usa: The Triumph of Advertising in American Culture. New York: Columbia University Press, 1996. Print Read More