Semiotics
Code
711011042
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Ciências da Comunicação
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Clara Nunes Correia
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To develop theoretical and practical skills concerning semiotics;
b) To identify the dominant strands of this field;
c) To acknowledge the latest developments of the semiotic turn;
d) To apply the aforementioned skills in the analysis of texts, images, and objects.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
The course has an introductory character, and it is tailored to the analysis of case studies and practical exercises, concerning the following topics:
1. Introduction to the main conceptual distinctions of semiotics, drawing from the concepts symbol, sign and system.
2. Introduction to representational issues: meaning, sense and reference concepts.
3. Interpretative paths: methodological devices towards texts and images analyses.
4. Case studies:
4.1 typical problems concerning discourse analysis (advertising, media, a. o.);
4.2 typical problems concerning literary texts;
4.3 typical problems concerning multimodal texts.
Bibliography
BARTHES, Roland ([1967] 1971). O sistema da Moda. Lisboa: Edições 70
COURTÈS, Joseph (1979). Introdução à Semiótica Narrativa e Discursiva. Coimbra, Livraria Almedina.
ECO, Umberto (1976). A estrutura ausente: introdução à pesquisa semiológica. São Paulo: Perspectiva.
HAWKES, Terence (1977). Structuralism and semiotics. Berkeley /los Angeles: University of California Press. (cap.1 e 2).
NÖTH, Winfried (1995). Handbook of Semiotics. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
Teaching method
The classes will comprehend theoretical (50%) as well as practical reflection (50%) concerning introductory questions raised within semiotics, and they will combine this reflection with the study of practical examples, in order to actively challenge the students to deal with interpretative issues on the domain of different kind of semiotic objects.
Evaluation method
50% practical classes.
Two midterm exams 40% (20% each); independent work (assessment on individual and group papers; reading reports) 20%; final exam (40%).