Language of Memory

THE LANGUAGE OF MEMORY

Senior Thesis. Graphic Design. Ashley Ludlow.

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All Rights Reserved 2016 © Ashley Ludlow Visual Arts & New Media State University of New York at Fredonia Senior Thesis Project Presented at Jesse & Marion Art Galllery 2016 ©

THE LANGUAGE OF MEMORY Thoughts on semiotics

and the value of objects

The Project This project explores the relationships between object significance, interpretation, and context. Through the study of semiotics, we understand why images have meaning and how meaning is generated. Using Michael Thompson’s Rubbish Theory, I am exploring the value of objects and the meaning we assign them through personal family stories.

langu

uage “I define a sign as anything which is so determined by something else, called its Object, and so determines an effect upon a person, which effect I call its Interpretant, that the later is thereby mediately determined by the former.�

– C.S. Pierce

memories

The Value of Objects David Crow Visible Signs 2010

According to Michael Thompson, British author of literary theory, “Rubbish� refers to items that are stored away in spare rooms or that are inherited. He points out that importance is placed on things we possess and less or no importance is given to the objects we throw away.

He calls these objects souvenirs, signifying experiences or memories. By choosing to keep certain objects, we make them a significant part of our lives. Although importance is put on these items, in reality they often have no economic value or practical use.

Transient Transient cultural objects have a finite life span and are usually part of the practical world and encountered in everyday life.

Physical Example: Food Social Example: Fashion

Durable Durable cultural objects are maintained and increase or are collected over time. They can have an infinite lifespan. They include items from historical events and often reflect family values.

Example: Vehicles & family heirlooms

Valueless Items in this category are the least valued.

This includes objects that gradually lose value until they become worthless. They are valueless until someone rediscovers it and transforms it into a durable object.

Example: Items found in junkyards & thrift shops.

THRIFT STORE

Understanding Semiotics Semiology is a science that developed in the early 1900s from the ideas of Ferdinand de Saussere, a Swiss professor in linguistics.

Around the same time in America, philospher Charles S. Peirce developed a similar theory.

Both theories resulted in the analysis of signs and a study of the relationship signs have with eachother. According to their studies, there are three main areas of semiotics: the signs themselves, how they are organized, and the context in which they appear.

Denotation Denotation is described as the commonsense literal meaning of a sign.

This usually deals with the dictionary definition of an object.

Connotation Connotation refers more to a personal interpretation of a subject. What is your emotional response?

ICON

An icon is a literal representation of the idea or object. For example, this image is an icon of a dog.

INDEX

SYMBOL

The index is a subject that directly hints at the idea. For example, if you hear barking or see a collar, that is a indexical of a dog.

A symbol is a learned reference. For example, the letters D – O – G are symbols taught to describe the idea of a dog.

Roland Barthes Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist and semiotician. He was not so much focused on what words mean but how meaning is created. He believed that the analysis of work depends on identifying the denoted meaning— recognition of a visual sign, and the connoted meaning— personal interpretation. The combination of these two leads to instant cultural associations.

Storytelling

Analysis

Stories can be told through physical objects, text, image, art, and the spoken word. They are either carefully considered and meticulously written, are formed of improvisation, or based off memories. Stories are shared as entertainment, to spread knowledge, and are used to pass down family traditions and history.

transient This object is transient because it is temporary and generally has a finite lifespan.

semiotics Icon This object is an icon of a ticket.

Index This object might be indexical of an important event because it is proof that a purchase was made.

Symbol For my father, this ticket symbolizes a highschool class trip to Amsterdam.

Transient Ticket to Amsterdam This ticket symbolizes my dad’s trip to Amsterdam:

“This was a senior trip from my highschool in Clayton, New York.

I raised money for the trip as the town’s paperboy. I got to know the people on my route pretty well and they would give money to me – 10 to 15 bucks to help me out. I also sold stuff as a class fundraiser.

I won the title of the number one seller. When we got to Amsterdam, we visited a shoe making store where I bought a pair of wooden shoes. We also got to go to the tulip festival and looked at the windmills. My favorite part of the trip was visiting a minature vilage in Amsterdam. It was an exact replica of the town – the airport, houses, and streets. Everything was scaled down to correct proportions. An unfortunate part of the trip was not really meeting anyone new. Since we only spoke English, it was hard to communicate with them.”

Durable Stepping Stone This stone is symbolic of my family’s time living in Texas.

The first four years of my life were spent in the town of Kerrville, Texas.

I remember the fish pond my dad built in the backyard that my sister and I would play in. We had doves and rabbits in cages in the yard. We would barefoot near the fence in the front yard where my dad planted violet lillies. We would always play in the sprinklers and ride in the wagon on the back of the tractor.

Sometimes, we even used to see roadrunners.

Analysis

durable This object is durable because it has been in my family for several years and has been important in remembering a significant portion of our lives.

semiotics Icon This is a physical representation of the state of Texas.

Index This object is indexical of ideas of state pride.

Symbol For my family, this object symbolizes the 10 years my family lived in Texas and all the memories of my childhood.

Analysis

valueless Since I found this object at a thrift store, its value was deemed unimportant until I picked it up and made it valueable and useful.

semiotics Icon This is a physical representation of a dress.

Index This object is indexical of attending an important event.

Symbol For me, this dress is symbolic of a celebration of my high school years and a fun night with friends.

Valueless Prom Dress Looking for a prom dress for my junior prom was a stressful task with no money. So, I decided to look around at thrift stores and asked family for previously worn dresses. After a lot of looking around, I finally found my dress for only forty dollars. What a steal, right? I remember worrying about my dress not being good enough, but then my mom said to me, “I’m glad your dress isn’t cookie cutter.” I guess she was right. I realized I’d rather be unique than trying to pretend to be someone else. With no signifigant other, I decided to ask my gay best friend.

It was probably the best decision I could have made. We killed it on the dance floor.

The Language of Memory © 2016 Ashley R. Ludlow Senior Show 1, April 15 – 22 Senior Thesis Project Presented at Jesse & Marion Art Gallery Fredonia, New York

Project created by Ashley Ludlow, 2016 Graduate of State University of New York at Fredonia.

BFA Graphic Design. BA Art History. Museum Studies Minor.

Bibliography Rubbish Theory; The Creation and Destruction of Value Michael Thompson Diacritics, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Autumn, 1985), pp. 2-12 The Johns Hopkins University Press

Visual Signs : An Introduction to Semiotics in the Visual Arts David Crow AVA Publishing; 2 edition (December 17, 2010)

Š 2016 Ashley Ludlow State University of New York at Fredonia Senior Thesis Project Presented at Jesse & Marion Art Galllery