Tag Archives: Umberto Eco

semiotics of ageing May 10

The Semiotics of Ageing in Advertising: Our changing discussion on age

How we think about age is partially constructed by the way that advertising communicates themes, values and behaviour. By looking at some of the metaphors about ageing used in different socio-cultural contexts, this provides a frame for developing a semiotic map of the meaning in age related advertising. It also raises considerations for how society will ‘talk’ about age, in an area of science and medicine that is taking larger strides every year.

White Rabbit Postmodern April 11

Have we become the White Rabbit? The experience of Time in the Postmodern Era

Have we become the White Rabbit in the Postmodern Era? Do we wear the watch or is the watch increasingly wearing us? How is our relationship to time changing at a semiotic level – are we thinking about time through different metaphors?

The psychology of the maze July 31

The Psychology of the Maze as a Modern Symbol

    Why are we still a-maze-d by labyrinths? With a diverse range of permutations, the Maze is a symbol that has been with humanity since the pre-historic era. So pervasive is the labyrinth within human symbolic communication, it is impossible to think of a human era where it was not a deep structural metaphor […]

Culture Decanted June 13

Opening a Window to the Future [Part 2]

Why are we so negative about the future?: Future Part 2   “The future is like a dead wall or a thick mist hiding all objects from our view’ William Hazlitt, 1822   Cultural Metaphors of the Future One of the manifestations of the authenticity trend in society today is the cherry-picking what parts of […]