Semiotic Classifications

After the mindmap, the next task was to fully research our objects, collect, photograph, document, and classify their semiotic associations. Semiotics, or the study of signs, was the driving force behind the work. It involves several classifications:

Icons are the direct representation of the object. An icon for a polaroid camera, for example, could be a image of it.

Indexes are indicators of the object. An index of the camera could be a polaroid photo itself. 

Symbols are abstracted and must be learned. A symbol of the camera could be the Polaroid logo.

Connotation and Denotation also play an important role in the study of signs.

The denotation of an object is the dictionary definition of it. For example: A polaroid camera is a machine used to generate instant photographs.

The connotation of an object is its emotional associations. For example: A polaroid camera can be connotative of the 1940's to the 1970's, of instant gratification, of travel, tourism, leisure, and primitivity.  

Our task was to illustrate our understanding of these concepts through our objects. Below is an image of my classifications for each object, as well as some early brainstorming for the next step of the assignment.