Semiotics

Week 1

What is Semiotics?

In short, semiotics is the study of signs in society - signs being indicators of language whether written, images, gestures or by many other means. Signs can mean different things in different languages and cultures but semiotics looks beyond the surface at underlying cultural messages and ideas. When signs are grouped together they form codes like body language and dress codes. Society is built upon the concept of these signs and codes and they are essential for communication since communication needs a mutual understanding for a meaningful exchange. 

Lecture Notes

Wrestling is fake, but that's news to no one. Barthes obviously knew this but he had a deeper understanding of the implications of the body language - and ultimately signs - that are going on in every aspect of life but in this case, particularly in wrestling. 

This YouTube clip is what the questions and answers in my notes were based off of and it of course also relates to the World of Wrestling text from Mythologies by Roland Barthes.