CPCF 1F25 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Polysemy, Intertextuality, Michel Foucault

• School: Brock University
• Department: Communication, Popular Culture and Film
• Course: CPCF 1F25
• Professor: Justin Sully

Document Summary

Representation representation= the act of putting ideas into words, visuals, audio, or any other system of signs. Receiver must decode and interpret the communication to understand the idea. Defining characteristics of saussurean sign and signification: (cid:883). (cid:498)arbitrary(cid:499) relationship between signifier and concept, (cid:884). Ordered by (cid:498)difference. (cid:499: (cid:885). (cid:498)langue(cid:499) vs. (cid:498)parole(cid:499) (cid:523)language and speech, ~ structure vs. (cid:498)binary opposites(cid:499) / binary oppositions use/agency) Agency and structure: a key concern in the study of communication. Example: our economic system constrains those who are unable to access money. Langue over parole: structure over agency. Polysemy= signs have more than one meaning and are open to a variety of interpretations. Ex: the word (cid:494)head(cid:495) has multiple meaninging: head of the class, head on your shoulders. Shared field of social institutions, knowledge, and culture. The social setting in which we live and the field in which the media operates. Provides a common field of reference for people to infer and interpret from.