Semiotics Preliminary Exercise 3

 Charles Peirce's Theory of Semiotics

In addition to Roland Barthes and Ferdinand De Saussure's theories on Semiotics is Charles Pierces. Charles Peirce is an American philosopher who introduced the idea that semiotics is the relationship between three key parts: symbols, icons, and indexes. To begin with, symbolic signs are signs that have no physical relationship between the signifier and signified. Where the signifier is something purely conventional and culturally specific. This can include symbols of a dove, heart and peace sign, indicating love and prosperity. Secondly, Iconic signs are signs that mimic the signified. For this, the signifier and signified relationship is straight forward. One example of an iconic sign is the skull symbol, which represents death. lastly, Indexical signs are signs where the signifier is directly caused by the signified factor. For example, smoke enveloping an area signifies a potential fire.

Spider-man: Far from home - Ending Swing scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gRUxK_Bses

For Charles Peirce's Theory on Semiotics, my instructor assigned us to choose a video clip from a movie and document the indexical, iconic, and symbolic signs in the scene. The movie that I picked is Spider-Man far from home, an action/adventure film. To briefly describe the plot, this movie is about the main protagonist, Peter Parker or spider-man, getting recruited for a mission to take down four elemental creatures wreaking havoc in Venice Italy. He teams up with Agent fury and another mysterious superhero by the name of Mysterio to take down this force. However, it would take a turn when Peter Parker finds out this so-called superhero named Mysterio was behind all the events surrounding the rise of the elemental creatures, making Mysterio the main antagonist he must fight. The scene that I chose is the ending swing Spider-Man takes after defeating Mysterio. Examples of iconic signs in this scene are the entity in the wheelchair and man with cane. Meaning or representing disabled and blind people. Symbolic signs in this scene include the spider on the costume and Spider-Man throwing up the peace sign with his fingers. The spider symbol alludes to the superhero Spider-Man and the peace sign signifies peace or prosperity.  Two indexical signs in this scene also include the security notice and trashcan sign. Indicating being under surveillance and where garbage should be deposited. A graphic of all this information is shown below.