Reading Response - 1

How to find the meaning of an image? To what extent can we interpret the meaning of an image?

This question came to my mind when I first started reading Rhetoric of the Image by Roland Bathes. The author explains different languages that can help us interpret an image, which made me wonder if we can create our own language of interpretation. I started to question myself about how to best approach the analysis of an image, thanks to Bathes I can use his “languages” to unpack and apply his different approaches. I understand that some photographs can easily transmit its message, perhaps there are the intentional photographs, or advertisements - the example the author uses - but a similar question arises with respect to this idea, how to make sure my audience understands my message? Using the definition of Chandler, D. for semiotics I was able to see that in most cases it is better to find the meaning of an image when we are working with a  “particular critical perspective”.

One may conclude that if an artist would like to covey the message of their work to a group of people, the artist would need to make certain that the group has basic knowledge of the image to be able to analyze it. The signs of a photograph is crucial for the audience to assimilate to their understanding. 

“all meaningful phenomena (including words and images) are signs.” 

References:

Roland Barthes. "Rhetoric of the Image." Image, Music, Text. Ed. and trans. Stephen Heath. New York: Hill and Wang, 1977. 32-51.

Chandler, D (2017). Semiotics : The basics. Retrieved from http:/ebookcentral.proquest.com

Created from nyu library-ebooks on 2019-09-01