SEMIOTICS (class day 2)

Semiotics is the study of meaning. de Saussure is the "father of semiotics." To DENOTE something is to give it direct meaning. To CONNOTE something is to give it a symbolized meaning. Structuralism is finding meaning in the parts of a whole. Semantics is different meanings for something to different people. ("Well...it's a matter of semantics. Let's just agree to disagree!")
Personally, as an illustrator, semiotics and the above are all extremely, extremely important. An illustrator has to be constantly thinking of how people are going to view the finished illustration and if they are going to get the intended meaning of it. I always think in my head as I'm working on a piece, "OK, if I saw this in a newspaper, what would be my first reaction to it? Would it give the article that it is accompanying the correct meaning, tone, point, etc.?" An illustrator has to work as simply and straightforwardly as possible to get the correct intended meaning for their finished artwork. And like we said in class, the simpler and more direct a piece is, the stronger the meaning will be (and there will be far less questions about it since it will be understood by a larger group of people...hopefully everyone.)
Semiotics is the study of meaning--and meaning is the most basic part of an illustration.