CMN 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Polysemy, Intertextuality
Document Summary
Polysemy the openness of signs to multiple meanings (and the openness of texts to multiple interpretations: ie: the symbol for the 2010 olympics has several conflicting meanings. Then how can we explain patterns in audience interpretation: code is helpful concept for understanding how meaning is patterned or structured. Rule-governed system of signs, whose rules and convention are shared amongst members of a culture, and which is used to generate and circulate meanings in and for that culture (john. The meaning of a sign is structured in two dimensions: paradigm sign"s difference form other signs in a signifying system or code. What words can you substitute to make sure it"s still a coherent sentence: syntagm sign"s combination with other signs in the same text. Relationship between signifier and signified is arbitrary. Meaning is produced through articulation of signifiers and signified. Articulation is constrained by cultural codes but the sign nevertheless remains polysemous.
