Monday: Semiotics

READING SUMMARY

Pop culture is constantly changing, and to study it we must have a method that allows for that frequent fluctuation. The semiotic method is one way we do this. We read signs in pop culture to better understand the meaning behind things. A sign could be something visual like a stop sign, or something you have to read more into to understand. The second part of this method is understanding connotations and denotations of these signs. The third is overdetermination, understanding that there can be multiple different meanings behind a sign. The last part is understanding the culture behind a sign, for example if there are myths about it.

OUTSIDE EXAMPLE

When reading this text, I immediately thought of The Bible. Being a Christian my entire life, I’ve been taught by conservative sunday school teachers that the Bible is to be read literally and has no errors. Being in a Old Testament class this semester has taught me that much of the Bible is symbolic, and must be read in context to its time. Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” We see here the Jesus is referred to as a lamb, and this is done numerous times throughout biblical text. The Lamb is a sign.

CONNECTION

To call Jesus a lamb is extremely symbolic and stands for much more than just a literal lamb. In context, a lamb was a common animal, known for being weak in biblical times. It completely juxtaposes the “strong, great” connotations that people have about Jesus. But a “lamb being brought to slaughter” symbolizes the crucifiction of Christ later in the Bible, saying He went before the people for their sins. Without analyzing this sign, this symbol would make no sense.