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September 27, 2005
Practice of Looking, Chapter 1 and Semiotics
Through images, ideologies (systems of beliefs that exist in all cultures) and important means of that culture is reflected and projected.
Film, TV, and radio are important medias that reinforce ideologies such as good and evil, love, and what is normal and what is not normal life. Sometimes, those reinforced ideologies make us question our goals of lives. For example, after I see a good movie, I do want to have a life like the characters in the movie. It is not because I am not having meaningful and interesting life, but I sometimes forget to seperate what is real and unreal. We are being continuously bombarded with images and illustrations that are sometimes unrealistic. It is important to learn how we see things and absorb what is reasonable and not.
Human minds interpret images that we see depending on historical contexts. Whether we are conscious or not, the "interpretars" use tools of semiotics. They are connotations and denotations. In the book, O.J Simpson's mug shot was taken as an example. When I first looked at the picture without reading the explanation of connotation and denotation, I did think that he was guilty. After reading the explanations, I took a look at his shot and this time, imagined it with lighter background and skin tone. If the image in my mind was the first shot that I took a look at, I would've come up with some questions: Why was his shot was taken? Was he really quilty or not? rather than making unconscious/poorly reviewed judgements so early. It is importat to notice such thinking process. I am excited and looking forward to be able to answer such tricks of one's vision/mind.
Posted by lcisbold at September 27, 2005 07:41 PM