Cultural Semiotics Research Articles

Axiological Approach in Pedagogy in the Context of the Problems of Semiotics of Culture

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the value consciousness of students with the aim of finding out to what extent they have assimilated spiritual values ​​and thanks to which authoritative sources these values ​​have penetrated into their mind. Theoretical Framework: The study is based on the principles of cultural semiotics. Lotman claimed that in the symbolic type of culture, the part is homeomorphic to the whole. This principle is applied to education. It is considered as a part reflecting the processes occurring in society as a whole. Method: The article is written on the material of a survey of first-year students of The Kosygin State University of Russia. Results and Discussion: Students assess themselves as knowing the commandments, even if they do not know their wordings. Family communication has become the main source of moral ideas for them. According to the laws of semiotics formulated by Lotman, axiology in school is homeomorphic one to state ideology. In developed countries there are no state axiology and state ideologies, because they are perceived as the source of civilizational catastrophes of the twentieth century. This gives rise to a crisis in the field of pedagogy. Research Implications: The results of the research can be applied in pedagogy. The empty niche of state axiology is incompatible with the laws of semiotics. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the pedagogical literature. by. The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by the need to overcome the crisis in the field of pedagogy.

Cultural and Creative Design and Development Driven by Cultural Semiotics Hunan Zhuzhou as an Example

The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of cultural semiotics theory in the design and development of cultural and creative products, taking Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, as an example. By analyzing the rich cultural resources of Zhuzhou, the study extracts and re-designs cultural symbols with local characteristics, and then applies them to the design and development of cultural and creative products. Starting from the policy background, the study demonstrates the necessity of cultural semiotics-driven cultural and creative design and its significance to social and economic development. Through case studies, this paper elaborates on the extraction process, design principles, and specific application of Zhuzhou's cultural symbols in cultural and creative products, aiming to provide theoretical support and practical reference for the innovation and development of cultural and creative industries.

Calligraphic Semiotic Interpretation in Jewelry Design: Culture, Identity and Expression

This article places the application of calligraphy in jewelry design under the perspective of semiotic research. It is a targeted study based on whether calligraphy can be organically integrated with semiotic characteristics for jewelry design. Supplemented by qualitative analysis, based on the relationship between the form and connotation of calligraphy and the signifier and the signified in semiotics, the positive impact of the integration and mutual promotion of calligraphy semiotics and jewelry design was deeply explored. This article first introduces the principles of semiotics, cultural semiotics and the research theory of traditional Chinese cultural symbols, then explains the essential characteristics and significance of jewelry design, and then focuses on the multi-dimensional and diversified connection between calligraphy, jewelry design and semiotics. After discussion and research, we finally reflected on jewelry design and attached relevant suggestions. The perspective chosen in this article is one of the outstanding features of this study. Although calligraphy and symbols originated from different cultural backgrounds in the East and the West, they have common attributes and functions that can be learned from each other. Based on the theoretical intersection of calligraphy and semiotics, the value and application of the combination of calligraphy symbols and jewelry design are discussed, which fully illustrates the close connection between Chinese calligraphy and semiotics and jewelry design. This article attempts to start with Chinese calligraphy and use semiotic research as a guide to construct a more practical "symbol"-"calligraphy"-"culture" jewelry design model. Through theoretical framework analysis, literature review, and empirical research, this article delves into how calligraphic symbols contribute to cultural heritage conservation, personal identity expression, and artistic expression in the context of jewelry design.

PADANGBULIA PEOPLE'S RESISTANCE TO PUBLIC POLICY NUMBER 10 OF 1951 CONCERNING THE ABOLITION OF THE MANAK SALAH TRADITION

In Bali, the birth of "kembar buncing," or mixed-gender twins, is often associated with negative connotations. Specifically, in Padangbulia, such births are traditionally accompanied by a ritual that includes the exile of the infants to a location deemed haunted by the local community. This practice of exile is a violation of human rights, leading to the issuance of Paswaran Number 10 of 1951, which mandates the abolition of the "Manak Salah" tradition. However, despite this regulation, the Padangbulia community continues to uphold the tradition. This study aims to explore the processes and forms of resistance by the Padangbulia community against the mandated abolition. The research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach, utilizing cultural semiotics and resistance theory to understand the community's actions. Data collection involved snowball sampling to select informants, supported by participant observation, interviews, and document analysis. Findings reveal that the "kembar buncing" tradition in Padangbulia involves several stages, including preparation, exile, and purification. The resistance to abolishing the tradition manifests both openly and covertly, highlighting the community's deep-seated cultural values and the complex dynamics between tradition and regulatory enforcement. This study sheds light on the persistence of traditional practices despite external pressures and the role of cultural resistance in maintaining local customs.

The cultural semiotics of Jingshen and cognitive homeostasis

Abstract Sonesson’s vision of the diversity of meaning-generation coincides well with the purview of the cultural semiotics of Jingshen, in which semiotic inquiry is envisioned to improve mental capacity, the expansion of mental/cognitive space, and ultimately the liberation of human thinking. When embracing new epistemologies for cognitive semiotics, semiotic inquiry can work well as a form of art of thinking that has the potential to maintain “cognitive homeostasis”, the tendency towards a relatively stable equilibrium that can be maintained in the holistic flux of mind, vitality, and creativity. A plausible path to this equilibrium is through a balance between the left and right hemispheres, between analytical thinking and synthetic thinking. In this sense, what we are facing is essentially a problem of “ecology of cognition” or “ecological cognition”, that is, viewing cognition from an ecological perspective or considering cognition as a form of ecological activity. The focus of cognitive semiotics nowadays must transcend not only words or other external symbols, but even the traditional sense of “humanity” needs to be reconsidered.

Dialogue and the “miracle of language”: the early and late Bakhtin

Abstract This essay begins with a brief account of the French linguistic structuralism and very briefly some aspects of the post-structuralist critique of it, here represented by Lacan and, Deleuze, and Guattari as a response to it. Against this backdrop, the purpose of the essay is to show a critique of structuralism that came earlier than the post-structuralist one, namely that of the Russian philosopher of the dialogic speech and literary scholar Mikhail Bakhtin in the 1920s. The concept of the dialogical word has had a major influence in cultural semiotics, literary – and film studies and existential psychotherapy. A second purpose of this essay is to briefly show in what way the ethics of the dialogical word is important in the latter, in existential psychotherapeutic work. Translations from Swedish and French are mine.

Kurt Cobain, or excess as a sign of the times. Subjectivity and biographical interest in cultural semiotics

A treinta años de la muerte de Kurt Cobain, es de interés preguntarnos por la excepcionalidad que la cultura pop ha asignado al líder de Nirvana, cuestión sobre la cual la semiótica puede brindar algunas respuestas. Propongo, para ello, revisar una lección tardía de Yuri Lotman que, en torno a las biografías, se ocupa de definir lo inusual que encarnan sujetos ejemplares que se arriesgan a disputar la norma. Las premisas de Lotman sobre el exceso semiótico encontrarían cauce en la cultura posmoderna, en especial en una subjetividad descentrada que Fredric Jameson definió en términos de una intensidad. En Cobain, será posible constatar dicha subjetividad que, sumiéndose en la inestabilidad y sin posibilidad de una total subversión, oscila entre la persecución romántica de la originalidad y la adoración fetichista de mercado. Acorde a los intereses de esa teoría semiótica, la lectura será emprendida en textos artísticos que retratan la vida del cantante y su mitologización, corroborando así cómo, en ciertos periodos, una biografía deviene laboratorio para observar toda una cultura.

BTS Beyond Beats: Disclosing Semantics Through Lyric Analysis

In the contemporary music landscape, BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) has risen as a global phenomenon, captivating audiences not only with mesmerizing beats but also through conveying profound messages in their lyrics. This article explores the multifaceted journey of BTS, emphasizing their impact on global pop culture, significant achievements, and role as cultural ambassadors. The study addresses three key research questions focused on how BTS lyrics reflect profound messages, identifying hidden meanings through semantic analysis, and appreciating music as an art form. "BTS Beyond Beats" serves as an invitation to appreciate music as an intricate art form, transcending the auditory experience to unravel the beauty and depth within BTS's crafted words. The study sheds light on the artistic depth and cultural impact of BTS's lyrics, offering a captivating journey into their semantic landscape. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the wisdom and hidden meanings in BTS lyrics, fostering a richer appreciation of music as a profound art form that goes beyond mere melodic hums. The semantic revelation invites listeners to connect with BTS on a profound level, recognizing the cultural significance and wisdom encapsulated in each lyrical masterpiece. The research methodology integrates linguistic and cultural semiotics, content analysis, and qualitative research methods, aiming for a systematic exploration of nuanced meanings, metaphors, and connotations within BTS's lyrics. Results consistently highlight themes of self-discovery, resilience, love, and societal critique, showcasing the group's ability to navigate diverse emotional and social landscapes. Cultural nuances and references to Korean history, folklore, and societal norms contribute to BTS's identity as cultural ambassadors.

Types of Conceptualization of Horror in the Genres of Country Noir and Southern Gothic

The relevance of considering the semantic content of the concept of horror, which connects the genres of country noir and southern gothic into a single subsystem of cultural semiotics, is due to the need for a more detailed study of the specifics of both the generalizing concept itself and its role in specific genres of literature and cinema. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to trace the features of the semantic registers of disclosing various types of horror in the philosophical and hermeneutic field of the genres of country noir and southern gothic. To do this, 1) the theoretical foundations for the conceptualization of horror in these genres are determined and the key elements and mechanisms of concept implementation are identified; 2) the narrative and metaphorical series of deployment of the concepts are analyzed within the framework of the lifeworlds of the characters in literary texts constructed by the authors; 3) philosophical and hermeneutic layers through which these concepts are revealed in selected genres are identified. The research methods are based on philosophical-hermeneutic, conceptual, and narrative approaches in the analysis of a number of works, chosen by their genre and the degree of their relevance for a particular type of conceptualization of horror. For example, the works No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy, Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell, The Salt of the Earth by Flannery O’Connor, The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley, The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, as well as the movie What Josiah Saw. The sequence of works referred to in the text is determined by the sequence of presentation of the types of the concept of horror. As a result of the study, the hypothesis was confirmed that the conceptualization of horror as a violation of the usual course of determination reveals itself in three versions of the ontologizing of this experience: horror of an uncertain world (determination dependent on the frame of perception of the subject, acting as an expression of the radical external, outside the power of the subject), horror of an indefinite self (determined as the order of the surrounding world with uncertainty in the inner world of the individual), horror of invasion (determination to displace each other). The conclusion is that the study of horror as a result of a violation of the usual course of determination in the context of country noir and southern gothic allows not only to identify their implicit philosophical and cultural component, but also to better understand these genres, as well as expand the theoretical basis for the analysis of similar phenomena in other cultural and literary traditions.

Development of Buddhist Cultural Creation based on Cultural Semiotics Theory

Cultural semiotics, as a unique theoretical framework, provides a profound way of thinking for the dissemination and interpretation of culture. This article takes the Dabao'en Temple in Nanjing as an example and explores its application in cultural and creative development from the perspective of Buddhist cultural semiotics theory. As a representative heritage of Chinese Buddhist culture, Nanjing Dabao'en Temple contains rich cultural symbols such as religion, history, and art, which is of great significance for cultural and creative development. Firstly, the research value of cultural semiotics in the development of Buddhist cultural creation was explored. Secondly, it explores how the elements in Da Bao En Temple, as cultural symbols, can be reconstructed in modern society to meet the aesthetic and needs of contemporary people. Through the artistic transformation of cultural symbols and other means, Da Bao En Temple has been able to radiate new vitality in cultural and creative products. In addition, this article also analyzes the strategies used in the design process of Da Bao En Temple's cultural and creative products. Through in-depth research, it can not only help Dabao'en Temple's cultural and creative products better achieve cultural dissemination, but also provide useful reference for the development of other similar cultural heritage. In summary, this article explores how cultural symbols can radiate new vitality in contemporary times by studying the application of cultural and creative development based on the theory of Buddhist cultural semiotics in the Dabaoen Temple in Nanjing. This not only helps to promote cultural inheritance, but also provides useful references for the sustainable development of the cultural and creative industry.

The Interconnection of Substance, Structure and Function in High Systemicity Texts

The purpose of the study is to establish the texts substance properties, to identify the features of its relationship with text structure and function and also to prove that the exclusion of substance as the most important, but not obvious for the current state of science, aspect of the system leading to semiotic distortion which cannot be improved. The study was carried out on the material of texts of different etiologies - religious and artistic, united by a functionally determined ultra-high degree of their levels consistency. The relevance of the work is determined by its significance in the development of a systematic method, the formation of the methodological foundations of systemic philology and the semiotics of culture. The systemic linguistics ideas developed in the works of W. von Humboldt, A.A. Potebnya, I.A. Baudouin de Courtenay, I.I. Sreznevsky, G.P. Melnikov, and the systemology developed by philosophers (K.F. Samokhvalov, G.P. Shchedrovitsky) and representatives of the natural and exact sciences (P.K. Anokhin, V.A. Engelgardt, L.V. Krushinsky, R.O. Bartini) did not have a direct impact on the systematic research of texts. Awareness of the significance of substance in the understanding of highly systemic texts begins to take shape in the exegesis and philosophy of art. Philology, focusing its interest mainly on fiction texts, contributes to the development of a systematic method with the emergence and development of ideas about the text dominant (yu.N. Tynyanov, R.O. yakobson), the diversity of its units (y. Mukarzhovsky), the discovery of the author’s image supercategory (V.V. Vinogradov), the identification of the method of estrangement (V.B. Shklovsky) and the universalization of it as a principle of assimilation of reality (V.B. Shklovsky, L.A. Novikov, M.L. Novikova). The comparison of different nature texts substance properties - against the background of the properties of the substance of language - allows us significantly refines the text substance understanding as the extreemly important system aspect.

Research on the innovative path of precise communication of Chinese Martial Arts under the background of the "One Belt and One Road"

Research on the innovative path of precise communication of Chinese Martial Arts under the background of the "One Belt and One Road"

Rational intuition: a study on semiotic subjectivity

Abstract Although scientific research usually emphasizes objectivity unaffected by any form of subjectivity, semiotic inquiries have to consider the role of subjectivity. In fact, social development, art, and literature always follow certain rules of objectivity, but these rules seem to be inescapably linked to the subjectivity of human beings. How can we avoid the subjectivity of research, or research biases caused by subjectivity, to ensure the objectivity of scientific research to the greatest possible extent? This paper answers the question through the cultural semiotics of jingshen, which is grounded in Chinese cultural traditions, especially the philosophies of Lao Tseu and Chuang Tzu. This line of inquiry seeks to identify objectivity in the constant transformation between the subject’s states of self and selflessness, while striving to avoid inductive and deductive biases caused by the “conceit” of rationality and to eliminate the constraints of specific concepts and images formed by existing knowledge as well as possible consequential “Verborgenheit.” The purpose is to achieve a state of “rational intuition,” returning to the natural mode of human existence and forging for semiotics a rationality-based path to the intuitive understanding of meaning.

Ideological representations of women in Jordanian folk proverbs from the perspective of cultural semiotics

This study analyses the semiotics of proverbs by presenting the ideological portrayals of women in Jordanian folk proverbs. The content analysis of the proverbs shows that women are represented both positively and negatively, though they are preponderantly depicted negatively in the majority of the analysed proverbs. They are represented negatively as a symbol of feebleness, foolishness, disgrace, cunning, deception, jealousy and reproduction. Few are the proverbs that elevate the status of women, and if they do, it is on the condition that they are confined to particular restricted gender roles, such as mothers, sisters, wives and daughters providing kindness, help, motivation, and comfort to others. The findings uncover how socially dominant ideologies can influence the way power is practiced in the context of gender relations. They also show the immense significance of such proverbs as a social discourse that has been long used for perpetuating gendered roles and constructing and interpreting related realities, thus affecting social structures and relationships. The inferiority of women constitutes the basis of their assigned roles and responsibilities in various life domains. The proverbs have the ideological indexicals of underestimating women, showing their position in society and also reminding them of their roles.

Staged reality in cinema: Contemporary interpretations and meanings

Relevance. The relevance of this subject is related to the development of information technology and new media, which has allowed wide access to cinema as a visual activity. The information media space is increasingly connected to human existence, and the demand for intangible goods and services inherent in post-industrial society is causing increasing demands for intellectual products outside the science and production industry.Purpose. In this context, the purpose of the study is to identify the plane of the significance of the staged reality of cinema as a dominant form of synthetic art, the attitude between artistic and nonartistic features of staged reality on the example of fiction and documentary cinema, and to outline the transformation of the structure of film reality as a constructor and medium.Methodology. The principal approaches to the study were structural and hermeneutic approaches to structural analysis in terms of the semiotics of culture of cinema reality sign space and the use of interpretive practices on textual objects.Results. The study describes the connection between the simulacrisation of cinema as a separate staged reality, capable of gaining independence from the original author's idea; the loss of the original author's role and the work itself as a text that is part of the global inter- and hypertext; and the role of the medium as a coherent, semantic carrier of content in the act of communication, which in its unity infinitely increases the possible perceptible meanings determined by the form.Conclusions. The materials of this study harmonise the theories of simulacra, author's death and mediumship in the context of cinema semiotics in the interpretative vector "mediumship-discourse-sign" and orient further research towards establishing the attitude between individual authorial language and cinema discourse in the context of hyperreality.

Identidades. Un acercamiento desde la semiótica de la cultura

The text examines the concept of identity from the semiotics of culture. Identity is not an immutable set of traits but is formed through constantly evolving semiotic processes. The territory and the geographical environment influence the configuration of the identity of individuals and communities. The temporal dimension is addressed through the idea of «explosion» in Lotman’s semiotic theory, which represents ruptures in the historical flow and unpredictability of history. The role of emotions that are culturally conditioned is highlighted. Cultural differences affect their expression. Individual and collective identities are interconnected. Individual consciousness is formed through external elements that we assume as our own. Finally, a «citizen identity» is advocated that transcends national and ethnic borders in a globalized world and that promotes integration and diversity in an interdependent global context.

Contribuições da Semiótica da Cultura como abordagem de leitura de O Reino encantado dos pôneis 4D

ABSTRACT Recently, children’s books have used augmented reality as a resource, being called 4D books. Augmented reality allows the user to see through the world while interacting in real-time with images produced digitally, resulting in interactivity. The present study aims to introduce the results of a brief reflection on the illustrated book O reino encantado do pôneis 4D under the approach of the semiotics of culture, departing from the notion of semiosis and semiosphere. The semiosphere, drawn by Lotman (1990), in analogy with the biosphere, can help understand the topology of the real and virtual worlds, referred to as the real subsemiosphere and virtual subsemiosphere, located in the interior of the broader semiosphere of the Brazilian culture. In 4D/Augmented reality books, the elements from the virtual subsemiosphere are placed into the real subsemiosphere, crossing their borders.

Understanding the “platform” keyword: An inquiry on the contested use of metaphors in platform studies

The emerging field of platform studies has sparked an ongoing debate regarding the meaning and utility of the term 'platform' within the academic community. This paper explores the contested nature of the term 'platform,' which has been employed as a metaphor, a conceptual framework for interpretation, and a keyword in digital discourse. The initial section traces the origins of platform discourse and the evolution of platform thinking. The second section utilizes cultural semiotics to reconstruct the metaphor's utility as a pragmatic instrument of knowledge. The third section delves into the contested meanings of the 'platform' by mapping twenty metaphors employed by scholars in diverse fields, including management, political economy, software studies, urbanism, and economic sociology. This section also organizes the metaphors in four conceptual categories related to the operations of the digital platform. The final part offers reflections on the 'platform' as a novel organizational form and assesses the overall usefulness of the term in academic discourse.

Unravelling Conspiracy Theory Within Cultural Semiotics Framework as Narrative and Communication Strategies in Indonesian Social Media

This paper aimed at exploring the meaning-making processes of conspiracy theories echoed by social media influencers as strategic narrative and communication systems. The topic was grounded in a cultural semiotic approach to dissect the aspects of signifier and signified as construed in social media. A nexus-case study was applied to make a deep analysis of meaning-making construction produced and re-produced by the influencers, taking up data triangulation derived from social media, theoretical frameworks, and empirical investigations. The study revealed that meaning was constructed through manipulating signifiers like Covid-19, Lato-Latto, and Dajjal worshipping, which were related to other floating signifiers to create polarization from the audience's perspective. Further, the meaning-making process was ontologically and epistemically baseless. Advanced recommendations are reiterated through this paper to provide a wide range of insight to cope with the issue presented.

Wokół kluczowych pojęć przekładoznawstwa – tekst wczoraj i dziś

ON THE KEY CONCEPTS IN TRANSLATION STUDIES – TEXTS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAYThe concept of ‘text’ is one of the key terms of translation studies; however, it has been presented through the prism of simple definitions, with scholars of translation putting forward fairly obvious definitions, limited within linguistics. This is one of the reasons why today in the time of omnipresent multimodality the concept seems inadequate or certainly problematic. Meanwhile, a clear definition of the concept seems necessary for defining the object of study of translation studies and thus securing the autonomous status of the latter. The article is an attempt made to consolidate knowledge and ideas concerning the concept presented throughout the years. It also puts forward a definition of a text understood within the structuralist and semiotic perspectives founded on Yuri Lotman’s semiotics of culture and Charles Sanders Peirce’s universal categories.