Visible Signs (Second Edition): An Introduction to Semiotics in the Visual Arts (Required Reading Range)

This book aims to be a kind of "Theory for Dummies" book you won't be embarrassed to be seen reading in public. The text is a concise, grab bag collection of semiotics and cultural theory for graphic designers. In the place of the cartoons you'll find in books like  Introducing Semiotics , however, Visible Signs is filled with photos and examples arranged in attractive layouts.While some of the visual examples are helpful, many exist primarily as signifiers of taste. The illustration of the dog next to the caption on Foucault, for instance, has nothing to do with Foucault or "gender-dominated practices." It's there to enhance the overall look and feel of the text. The entire text, then, becomes an unintentional illustration of Bourdieau's claim (described here and there) that certain modes of taste are legitimized by a discontinuity between art and life. The images here are less about explaining, and more about exercising cultural heft. In this way, Crow draws from the authority of tasteful image-making practice even while seeking to demystify the process of cultural production.Vital Signs is an easy-to-read overview of ideas, more like an annotated bibliography or an expanded masters thesis. As such, it's a good starting point for research on scholars or theories that might appeal to graphic designers. The central irony of the book is that the while the layouts show an understanding of tasteful visual conventions, the author is unable to transcend these conventions. The layouts come across as the work of someone who is attuned to weight of cultural tradition and value--even while remaining beholden to it.

Not a bad book but a little heavy in the reading. It was a required college book for my son's class.

Great book. Came exactly as described and good price. Could not find it cheaper anywhere.

Sorry for delay. I totally forgot to evaluate and comment the stuff I bought on amazon. Very good quality. It was unused. Totally new.

Got here fast, looked great.

GREAT

Good.

A good read, interesting and easy to follow. They could have left out the fancy cover and stickers and lowered the price a little though.

This book is probably one of the books that I have used the most for my studies. I would recommend it for any one that is studying Visual art.

Very thorough.

amazing book good quality well worth the prise.

great

IT is ok, but not great. Not written in an 'approachable' way. not much information, not enough examples, and detailed examples, detailed explanations. I found it useless!