In this week's contextual studies lecture, we discussed further the concept of Semiotics, first through 'hats' (due to Sharon Bainbridge's career focus on Millinery) and how these can help to emphasise character.
Things hats can state about a character
- Status
- Belonging (in a tribal sense)
- Protection
- Concealment
- Ideology
A key example of this was the contrast between the hats (and therefore characters of) Clint Eastwood and John Wayne films; how rugged wear, silhouette or colour associations can determine whether a character is read by an audience as an 'outlaw' or a 'hero'.
Works such as True Grit (1969) vs its remake (2010) show semiotic messages being sent through different cultures and how meanings can change over time.
It is also important to consider the bias of semiotics in contemporary sources, such as photographs of Butch Cassidy. Often, photography companies would have a collection of 'proper' clothing for individuals to wear.
Items on their own almost become their own characters: See Captain Jack Sparrow and Holly Golightly.
- Rugged, dirty, outcast
OR
- Upper-class, elegant, Dior
The future through symbols
Metropolis
Bladerunner
Back to the future
Brazil
Fifth element
These all explore the concept of 'The future' through different lenses. All are, in some way, reflections of one another.
Art Movements
Following the discussion of Semiotics, Huw introduced the link between object meaning and art movements; notably, their importance in our Year 1 essays.
Some examples of this are:
Realism (Courbet, Millais. A socialist art movement)
Impressionism & Post-Impressionism (Manet, the invention of synthetic paints and oil tubes)
Expressionism
Fauvism
Cubism
Dadaism, surrealism etc
Pointillism and the painterly techniques that were furthered (eg. Bonnard in the 20th c.)
Surrealism
At this point, Surrealism became the key focus of the lesson, particularly films such as Un Chien Andalou and artists such as Man Ray.
- Surrealists wrote their own manifestos based on countries. Eg. British manifestos, French Manifestos. Breton's 1924 surrealist manifesto
'Gift' by Man Ray
This element will be explored further in Week 6 of Contextual Studies.
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