Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics

This book deals with one the most interesting aspects of human life—the search for meaning. It discusses how the science of semiotics is equipped to provide insight on what meaning is and how we produce it. Why is it that certain people routinely put their survival at risk by smoking? Why is it that some women make locomotion difficult for themselves by donning high-heel footwear? Are there unconscious forces at work behind such strange behaviors? This book will attempt to answer such questions by claiming that these behaviors are meaningful in culture-specific ways. The discipline that studies such behaviors and their relation to meanings is called semiotics. Semiotics probes the human condition in its own peculiar way, by unraveling the meanings of signs, which motivate not only the wearing of high heel shoes, but also the construction of words and art forms.

Now in its third edition, this landmark introduction to semiotics has been updated with a wealthof new content, focusing on the many developments in digital culture since the previous edition. With the addition of topics such as memes, Selfies, social media profiles, and even Mafia discourse, the new edition comprehensively covers new trends in culture while streamlining treatments of basic semiotics contents.

1116861706
Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics

This book deals with one the most interesting aspects of human life—the search for meaning. It discusses how the science of semiotics is equipped to provide insight on what meaning is and how we produce it. Why is it that certain people routinely put their survival at risk by smoking? Why is it that some women make locomotion difficult for themselves by donning high-heel footwear? Are there unconscious forces at work behind such strange behaviors? This book will attempt to answer such questions by claiming that these behaviors are meaningful in culture-specific ways. The discipline that studies such behaviors and their relation to meanings is called semiotics. Semiotics probes the human condition in its own peculiar way, by unraveling the meanings of signs, which motivate not only the wearing of high heel shoes, but also the construction of words and art forms.

Now in its third edition, this landmark introduction to semiotics has been updated with a wealthof new content, focusing on the many developments in digital culture since the previous edition. With the addition of topics such as memes, Selfies, social media profiles, and even Mafia discourse, the new edition comprehensively covers new trends in culture while streamlining treatments of basic semiotics contents.

44.99 In Stock
Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics

Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics

by Marcel Danesi
Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics

Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics

by Marcel Danesi

eBook3rd ed. 2018 (3rd ed. 2018)

$44.99 

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers


Overview

This book deals with one the most interesting aspects of human life—the search for meaning. It discusses how the science of semiotics is equipped to provide insight on what meaning is and how we produce it. Why is it that certain people routinely put their survival at risk by smoking? Why is it that some women make locomotion difficult for themselves by donning high-heel footwear? Are there unconscious forces at work behind such strange behaviors? This book will attempt to answer such questions by claiming that these behaviors are meaningful in culture-specific ways. The discipline that studies such behaviors and their relation to meanings is called semiotics. Semiotics probes the human condition in its own peculiar way, by unraveling the meanings of signs, which motivate not only the wearing of high heel shoes, but also the construction of words and art forms.

Now in its third edition, this landmark introduction to semiotics has been updated with a wealthof new content, focusing on the many developments in digital culture since the previous edition. With the addition of topics such as memes, Selfies, social media profiles, and even Mafia discourse, the new edition comprehensively covers new trends in culture while streamlining treatments of basic semiotics contents.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781349953486
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date: 04/27/2018
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 554 KB

About the Author

Marcel Danesi is Professor of Semiotics and Anthropology at the University of Toronto, Canada. He is renowned for his work in several areas of semiotic study, including pop culture and metaphor. He has been a guest on several broadcast outlets, including National Public Radio. Among his major recent publications are The History of the Kiss! (2013) and Murder in Plain English, with Michael Arntfield (2016). His work has been featured in the New York Times, Toronto Star, and Psychology Today, among other print publications. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Semiotica, the leading journal in semiotics.

Table of Contents

List of figuresvi
Prefacevii
1Cigarettes and High Heels: The Universe of Signs1
2What Does It Mean?: How Humans Represent the World23
3Make-Up: Why Do We Put It On?47
4Tell Me about Yourself: What Is Language?65
5Kisses Sweeter Than Wine: Metaphor and the Making of Meaning91
6Now, You Tell Me about Yourself: Why Do We Tell Stories?113
7At Arm's Length: The Meanings of Spaces131
8What a Beautiful Ring!: The Meaning of Clothes and Objects147
9Art Is Indistinguishable from Life: The Artistic Nature of the Human Species163
10There's More to Perfume Than Smell: Advertising, Pop Culture, and Television181
Notes201
Index209
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews