J7SC 2CA05 - Semiotics of images and visual languages in communication and digital culture

It is very common to say that we are living in a “visual” culture. But what does this truly mean? Is it a simple distinction between text and image and does that infer that only images are belonging to “visuality”? Obviously not. In our modern society, largely influenced by digital and pop culture, “visuality” is a complex and growing reality that is shaping our common language and representations in a globalized world. Semiotics is the study of production of signification, leveraging linguistics to go beyond verbal language. As such, it is a privileged frame to understand the basis of the visual language that is shaping pop culture and digital culture. From advertising and brand language to digital language, the modern and media society by visual forms and objects: logos & brand images, pictograms, social media frames and formats that are influencing both our representations and our practices. It frames a culture where demonstration and description are being replaced by immediate connection and evocation. The course will introduce to a semiotic approach to the images and “visuality” that are shaping our media culture and communication. To do so, we will use some basic semiotic frameworks to understand the stakes and the signification logics of those visual languages.

Erik BERTIN

Séminaire

English

Students may have to prepare readings or activities for the class.

Course taught in English: a level C1 at least is required; While the course will focus on concrete manifestations of media society and pop culture, it requires some ability and appetite for conceptualization. Students will be given a mandatory reading as a preparation to the course during summer.

Autumn 2023-2024

- Individual written paper: 40% - Group in-class oral presentation: 40% - Work preparation, class participation: 20%

12 x 2h00