signs, symbols and meaning

Signs and symbols are truly everywhere, which is why I think I’m struggling with this blog more than the others--because we are so consumed in signs, meanings, metaphors etc. that it’s hard to pick a specific example. So I’ll do my best to make sense of the way in which meaning and symbols can be changed and why it happens.

The story of the silk stockings brought up the idea of status, and how Mrs. Sommers saw these silk stockings as a sign of social standing. For many consumers this is the case, buying a popular brand name symbolizes a kind of social standing and looking at what a person is wearing, or buying etc can sometimes even tell you a little bit about that person.

With the Oscars coming up I’ve been thinking about how they present themselves and the various symbols that exist in that context. The current economic situation is affecting the often sought after ‘glamorous’ life of the stars and I believe in a way they are forced to alter their image. When the economy wasn’t struggling--the more diamonds and the more money spent on clothing and parties, the better the stars image. Don’t get me wrong, this glamorous lifestyle is still idolized and still exists, but stars are also aware that with such tough times their fans might have mixed feelings about spending so much money on such trivial things.

Michelle Obama’s inauguration gown was another example of this idea. Her gown was designed by a young, not-well-known designer and became a symbol. By choosing that dress, and that designer it showed the country that you don’t need high-end designers to look great, and that she doesn’t put emphasis on material things.

Symbols, signs and meaning can truly be found everywhere. And discovering the meaning isn’t always easy but it’s interesting to look into various signs and determine why and how meanings are developed and under what conditions they can change, or be interpreted differently.

“So far no chemist has ever discovered exchange value either in a pearl or a diamond.”

Marx’s sarcastic comment truly continues to relate to the world in which we live in today. He fights the common ideology in today’s society about the value placed on material goods and why that value is given to certain products. I would like to comment of Marx’s idea and further look at the ideology of consumerism and our relationship with the media...

In one of my classes we learned that on average consumers are exposed to 3,000 advertisements each day, but we only notice 30. This fact truly opened my eyes to how un-avoidable the messages of the media and brands are. The persuasive nature of everything around me became overwhelming after learning how many messages are thrown at us on a daily basis. The moose logo plastered all over the boy’s shorts next to me would have been unconsciously consumed before that class. I never would have thought twice about the consequences that may result from simply wearing a logo, and all of the factors that go into making a simple t-shirt. People turn into walking billboards—paying to wear a logo and perpetuate the brand which in turn contributes to the success of the company. I had never before recognized how everything I saw was shaping both my common sense and my beliefs about nearly everything I perceived.

Even though this media class fundamentally changed my understanding of the relationship between the mass media and society, I’m not so foolish as to think I am completely immune from the allure of these messages. Being a more informed consumer helps me to see the hidden motives of the mass media, but I still find myself, from time to time, giving in and perpetuating this unhealthy relationship. I mean who doesn’t want a designer bag over a cheap knock-off? And I find it nearly impossible not to strive to fit the rigid ideal of beauty and social acceptance that the media presents. It’s clear to me how inescapable the persuasive messages are. And even a complete awareness of this troubling relationship between the mass media and society does not protect us from the power of the appeal.

So what does it take to resist the appeal and avoid giving in to and perpetuating the ideology presented by the media?

I recently finished Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson. This is a novel that addresses the issue of stereotyping and prejudice. The entire novel is focused around a trial of a Japanese-American man who has been accused of killing a white man. This novel does a powerful job of showing the strong prejudices that Kabua, the Japanese-American man encountered on his trial. Most of the jury was prejudice against him for being a Japanese American because the novel takes place after the bombing at Pearl Harbor—making some prejudice against the Japanese race.

The novel is filled with details and histories of many characters. Depending upon the background of the reader, and the context in which the novel is read I believe there are many different meanings that can be found within this text.

I read this novel for a class that is dealing with issues of stereotypes and prejudices. I found this to be a perfect example of how the way we read is constructed by the context in which we are reading—this idea which was introduced by in Theory Toolbox. I knew going into the novel that I should keep an eye out for the injustices that the character faced. I found myself analyzing and interpreting Kabuo’s actions right down to his body language, and the reactions of the jury members. The meaning behind the characters and the novel was socially constructed and influenced by the beliefs and discussion with my classmates. It now occurs to me that if I had not experienced this text within this context the meaning would have been constructed very differently. For example, if I had read this novel without the focus on stereotypes and prejudice--I may have read it as more of a love story...... (I haven't seen the movie yet, but even the movie trailer seems to sell it as a love story--so i attatched a link to the trailer if you're interested!?)