#Signified

[penhive]

Allegory and the signifier and the signified

Now what is an allegory? An allegory is a fable with an extended message. Signifier and the signified comes from  semiotics and both of them make a sign. The signifier is a tangible visual thing and the signified an idea. For example if I say: dove is peace, dove is the signifier and peace the signified. Here in this article I want to discuss the impact of the signifier and the signified on various types of allegory.

Philosophical allegory

In philosophical allegory I am taking Plato’s cave. There’s a dark cave and in it people are searching for light and a bright shaft of light emerges from top. What Plato meant was there is a sensible world of forms and a supersensible world of ideas. As an allegory the caves is the signifier and light the signified. All sensible forms are made of ideas.

Religious Allegory

For the religious allegory I am taking the Biblical story of creation. God created the Garden of Eden and he created man and woman in his own likeness. Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent Satan ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, the tree of good and evil and fell into sin.  Here the signifiers are: God, Adam, Eve, the garden of Eden, the tree of good and evil and the serpent. The signified is creation, sin and banishment from the Garden of Eden.

Political Allegory

For political allegory, I am taking George Orwell’s animal farm. In it are animals who try to develop an ideal system of government (communism). Initially all goes well and then the farm degenerates as the leadership animals become corrupted and wasted. In the allegory of the animal farm, Orwell takes a dig at Communism and its reprobation as tyranny. The signifier of the animal farm is the animals trying to implement and ideal form of government and the signified is the government. There’s a saying power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Aesthetic Allegory

For developing the aesthetic allegory I have taken my poem Nature Samadhi

Nature Samadhi

Dawn started moving

With the lovers communing

Colors nuzzling fonts

Surging tourbillon

Glowing passion

Eternity flies as Sadhus in white

Unveiling time on mystic flight

Swaying pebbles glistening Karmic odes

Samsara meanders pilgrimage blues

Beyond mundane life

Of aching pain and deadly strife

Heraclitus is moving from flux to feeling.

The heading of the poem has nature as the signifier and Samadhi as the signified (Samadhi has two meanings death and enlightenment). The sojourn with nature is exalted with the feeling of enlightenment.  The lovers in the poem are colors and they are the signifier and communion is the signified. The colors surging is the signifier and passion the signified. Sadhus are birds and they are the signifier and their flight to eternity is the signified. Brook is the signifier and moksha (salvation) is the signified. Swaying pebbles is the signifier and karmic odes the signified. Heraclitus is the signifier and motion from flux to feeling is the signified.

[ravenkings]

[dowdicus]

Sign/Signified

I’ve been thinking, Lately– I never wrote you a poem. It’s strange to me. I usually write my lovers poems. But I’ll admit I kept you at arm’s length.

I think being friends with you Has made me feel closer to you. And I feel the kind of love I want to feel: Not the terrifying, heart-palpitating Need Of a new relationship, But I admire you. I think you are everything I want to be.

It’s challenging, Writing a poem for someone. You may love some tiny, offhand detail about their person, And they’ll say, “that’s not me.” And then you must reconcile [them] with them. And I’ll always wonder If I love [you] or you.

And now I’ve written a poem for you— Or maybe for [you]— And though I'm not sure the difference is clear, I’ve forgotten what I intended to say, Having gotten lost in sweet memories Of happy smiles on your face.

[leechaeeun03]

WOII: Week 4 - Semiotics

‘It’s like a silent dialogue between the design and the viewer, communicating complex messages in an instant.’(Dyess) Semiotics in design helps us instantly understand visual cues, like the STOP sign’s shape and color, which signal urgency and demand attention.

As a personal activity, I compared two beer advertisements. One depicts a man in an expensive suit leaning against a luxurious bar (signifier), evoking a sense of smoothness and sophistication (signified). Its clean, well-organized layout reinforces this elegance.

In contrast, the Cass beer advertisement conveys a refreshing and exhilarating feeling (signified) through the lively expressions of young people and splashing water (signifier). The diagonal arrangement of text and design elements adds rhythm and energy. Though both ads promote beer, the choice of symbols and visual elements creates entirely different impressions, which I found fascinating.

Using symbols has a powerful impact, helping deliver messages more effectively. Rather than simply presenting information, designs should evoke emotions and leave a lasting impression, especially in advertising. Symbols not only enhance meaning but also help simplify designs. Good design conveys messages clearly and concisely. the more unnecessary elements it has, the less effective it becomes. This is why symbols are crucial. I believe they make designs both impactful and easy to understand.

In a photography class, I worked on a project that visually interpreted a news article warning about rising temperatures. To represent the idea of temperature rise and warning (signified), I used upward arrows and caution signs (signifiers). Through this activity, I realized how much our subconscious associations with shapes and symbols influence design. Applying this understanding to my own work has deepened my appreciation for semiotics and its role in visual communication.

.(278  words)

Reference

Dyess, Chase. "Semiotics: The Unspoken Language of Graphic Design." Medium, 25 July 2023, https://dyessdesign.medium.com/semiotics-the-unspoken-language-of-graphic-design-592db4f6c226. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

Nordquist, Richard. "Semiotics Definition and Examples." ThoughtCo., Dotdash Meredith, 23 Sept. 2024, https://www.thoughtco.com/semiotics-definition-1692082. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

Malik, Usman. "25 Important Safety Signs, Symbol, and Their Meanings." HSE Blog, 30 May 2024, https://www.hseblog.com/safety-signs-symbol/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

[nursophia]

WOII: Week 4 - Semiotics

In my exploration of semiotics, I’ve developed a deeper understanding of how signs and symbols shape meaning in design communication. A sign is made up of the signifier (its physical form) and the signified (the concept it represents). This concept became more tangible during a class activity, where I conducted both formal and contextual analyses of an advertisement poster.

By examining visual elements such as colour, typography, and imagery, I saw how these components functioned as signifiers, evoking emotional and cultural associations that influence how viewers interpret the message.

As noted in Semiotics in Art & Design, “Semiotic analysis, which examines the meanings of signs and symbols, helps us understand how these elements express ideas, emotions, and messages through visual art forms.” This reinforced my understanding that meaning is not passively received—it is actively constructed by both the designer and the viewer. Advertisers, for example, strategically use symbols to shape perception and evoke specific responses. For me as a designer, this is a powerful insight: thoughtful use of signs and symbols can enhance clarity, evoke emotion, and ensure alignment between message and audience perception.

Moreover, semiotics extends beyond the realm of design. As Semiotics: The Unspoken Language of Graphic Design highlights, it is a universal system that operates across cultures and contexts, shaping how we understand the world. This perspective helped me recognize that meaning is constantly being constructed through subconscious visual cues. By becoming more aware of these systems, I can create work that is not only aesthetically engaging but also culturally resonant and communicatively precise.

Word count: 255

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References: 

Mba, Chase Dyess. “Semiotics: The Unspoken Language of Graphic Design - Chase Dyess, MBA - Medium.” Medium, 7 Aug. 2023, dyessdesign.medium.com/semiotics-the-unspoken-language-of-graphic-design-592db4f6c226.

Reynolds, Adrian. “Semiotics in Art and Design: The Power of Symbols and Signs - Adrian Reynolds.” Adrian Reynolds, 27 Jan. 2025, adrianreynolds.ie/semiotics-in-art-and-design/?srsltid=AfmBOor34EoRuHqGXELqBBarXsls-lh2SzHCQFiskL25RhTFEgVVJb-S.

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[fogmoo]

Lamb to the slaughter

[frogaroundandfindout]

Bruce gets knocked over the head with a lead pipe and without even looking at eachother dick and Tim start circling around him making tweeting noises

Meanwhile bruce wishes the hit actually knocked him out so he didn’t have to witness his kids acting like this

[keylimeart]

could i interest you in my space regency au

[dmcreativestudio]

Joseph Kosuth - One and Three Chairs

A chair sits alongside a photograph of a chair and a dictionary definition of the word chair. Perhaps all three are chairs, or codes for one: a visual code, a verbal code, and a code in the language of objects, that is, a chair of wood. 

[penhive]

Meta-signifier and signified

The sign in semiotics consists of the signifier and the signified. A signifier is a tangible thing and the signifier an idea. For example if I say the dove is peace, dove is the signifier and peace the signified.

A meta-signifier consists of two signifiers and an example is: The bird is resting in the nest where bird and nest are meta-signifiers.

A meta-signified consists of two signifieds. An example from Keats is Truth is beauty: beauty truth. Truth and beauty become signifieds.

[lucabyte]

some thoughts on Claude

alt title: diversity win! this Butch Nun is crafting bombs in an unventilated room in her convent while actively courting Mother Superior! Do Not Give Them Access To Unlimited Power No Matter How Nice They Are

+ bonus

[bloomfish]

why did they make her wear this. she looks like she skinned elmo and is wearing him as a trophy

[tibli]

i have been trying to figure out why the whole 'fae god' and katniss everdeen things with kendrick lamar on here were bothering me, and i think i finally put it into words.

most posts like that are probably coming from well-meaning white people (i am also partially a White People, to be clear), who otherwise dont really listen to rap. they cannot find a way to 'relate' to this black man who sings largely about issues that affect the black community– and rather than try and meet him where he is, they have to fit him into these little tumblr cultural boxes before he can be 'palatable' to them.

they have to shave off the rougher/more abrasive aspects of his work and activism because it makes them uncomfortable, that way they can pigeonhole him into something that allows them to enjoy his work without the critical analysis that MUST come with it

he is not your fae god, he is not a YA protagonist, he is not a little gremlin or a cinnamon roll or a blorbo. He is a human being with opinions and beliefs that deeply permeate his work, and to ignore that truth is to ignore the entire point. PLEASE try to engage with artists' work outside of the lens of tumblr fandom, and i mean that as nicely as possible. you are doing YOURSELF a disservice

[kolomo]

百花繚乱 (a profusion of flowers) by lilas ikuta

[pendraconems]

Both the sacrificial lamb and the executioner

|| Ko-fi || Store ||

[ryartchus]

ivti pokemon....