- A Sign is the combination of itss signifier and signified -
According to Barthes' theory, a sign is a part of a system. A connotative system including three elements: the signifier, the signified, and the sign. The words "Hope" and "Change" themselves are the signifier and the interpretation of Obama = 'Hope for change' is the signified. And according to Barthes, the "combination of the two is the sign." This concept of the signifier and signified are influenced from Saussure, who highly influenced Barthes to study semiotics.
But many critiques have been made saying that individuals have their own ways of interpretations. Not everyone has the same ideas seeing one sign which gives the world the diversity of ideas.
The signs in this video aren’t hard to figure out; it’s about hope, change, a new beginning for a country that desperately needed one. The video shows a diverse group of people: children, adults, minorities, majorities everyone was affected by the election this past November whether they wanted to be included in it or not. Hanna says President Obama is the hope for change we need in this country, and I believe she’s is correct. He is a signal and he signifies a new era of helping people being honest, and trying to get back to what America as a country is all about freedom, not fear. He is reaching out to people of all ages, parties, shapes, sizes. Young and old this is our country everyone needs to start caring more and stop taking their lives for granted. Something he reiterated in his de-facto state of the union address. Were failing as a country the old way isn’t working anymore, we need change and hope I’m the person to inspire that and he already has. Like Presidents Roosevelt, and Kennedy before him.
ReplyDeleteIn the video it is not hard to see the signs of Hope and Change. In the video we see people from all over the US all working towards the same thing. Also in the video you see that everybody has Obama's logo someware, i think that this logo is suppose to represent Hope and Change that Obama can bring to this country. the reason this works so well is becuase in the last election the country was divided and with this election Obama was able to bring everyone togthers again.
ReplyDeleteI think the video is a clear example of Barthes' semiotics theory. Almost all political campaigns have that one unique selling point for their candidates. As Barthes notes, "nonverbal signifiers seem to have a natural affinity with their signifieds." When I examine the taxonomy of the key ingredients in this clip, I actually picture Obama as the signifier, and the terms "hope" and "change" as the signified; as a whole, Obama is the sign for "hope" and "change." It's an interesting point that Barthes makes in that all parts of the equation are somewhat "quasi-arbitrary;" it's all interpretation and position.
ReplyDeleteNear the end of your post you mention how critics say that each individual has their own way of interpretation and i strongly believe this. Sure Obama and the things surrounding him are associated with hope and change to most, but is that always the primary message that is taken away from such things? Sure it may be relatively common but I don't believe it is strong enough, and that there are two many personal factors that play into it.
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