Semiotics

Book chapter

Cobley, P. 2016. Semiotics. in: Jensen, K., Rothenbuhler, E., Pooley, J. and Craig, R. (ed.) The International Encyclopedia of Communication Theory and Philosophy Chichester John Wiley & Sons.
Chapter titleSemiotics
AuthorsCobley, P.
Abstract

This entry outlines some of the ways semiotics is defined and considers some of the narratives into which semiotics has been fitted, even within communication theory. It discusses the domain of semiotics, the constitution of the sign, the ideas of ‘code’ and ‘text’ and the relation of semiotics to the ‘textual’ turn that still wields influence in media studies. It shows how semiotics has been inflected sometimes in a misleading fashion while also attempting to demonstrate that the semiotic project can be grasped by a focus on the task of illustrating the complex and fluctuating relations which expose the gap between ‘illusion’ and ‘reality’.

Keywordssemiotics, illusion, reality, code, text
Book titleThe International Encyclopedia of Communication Theory and Philosophy
EditorsJensen, K., Rothenbuhler, E., Pooley, J. and Craig, R.
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons
Place of publicationChichester
SeriesThe Wiley Blackwell-ICA International Encyclopedias of Communication
ISBN
Hardcover9781118290736
Publication dates
Online23 Oct 2016
Print01 Nov 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited25 Sep 2015
Accepted16 Jan 2015
Output statusPublished
Copyright Statement

Access to full text restricted pending copyright check

Additional information

4 Volume Set

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118766804.wbiect146
LanguageEnglish
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