Space Perception and Semiotics in Modern Culture
Perception of Space: Visual, Auditory, Gustatory, Olfactory, and Virtual
Space is defined as the extensive property of bodies, encompassing their size, capacity, volume, and the area in which these bodies are located.
Visual Space
Visual space is constructed through the relationships between addresses, sizes, and shapes, and the coordinates provided by vertical and horizontal directions within our field of vision.
- Binocular vision allows for the perception of depth in relation to objects.
- The sense of depth of field is achieved through processes of accommodation, disparity, and convergence. Techniques like overlay can create an illusion of depth even in a flat image.
Auditory Space
Auditory space provides us with a sense of balance and body location. It is perceived through sounds and noises, aiding vision in representing distance. Music, as an art form, unfolds within this space, conveying feelings through sound vibrations and the use of various instruments.
Gustatory and Olfactory Space
Gustatory space is created when we perceive the taste of things, collaborating closely with our sense of smell. Olfactory perception also establishes its own unique space, opening our minds to a deeper sensory experience.
Three-Dimensional Space
Three-dimensional plastic space manifests in the physical world by linking volumes. Architecture and sculpture are disciplines that extensively develop and utilize this type of space.
Virtual Space
Virtual space is a suggested reality, contrary to physical reality. It can consist of flat or three-dimensional forms that are not physically present but are perceived by the eye as such. Before the advent of cybernetics, virtual space was discussed in the context of painting. Currently, virtual reality is a system that allows one or more users to view, move, and interact within a computer-simulated world. While virtual reality aims to deceive the user’s senses, cyberspace offers a full integration between humans and machines, primarily consisting of global networks like the Internet.
Understanding Signs, Symbols, and Signifiers
A sign is a unit capable of transmitting representative content. It is a material object, known as the signifier, which is perceived by the senses and, within the communication process, conveys information referred to as the meaning.
Symbol
A symbol is the perceptual representation of an idea, characterized by features associated with a socially accepted convention. Symbols generally possess a broader meaning than signs, with signs being more specific and even perceivable by animals.
- Example of a sign: A red traffic light (specific meaning: stop).
- Example of a symbol: A dove (broader meaning: peace, love, Holy Spirit).
Signifier
The term signifier is used in structural linguistics and semiotics to denote the material component of a linguistic sign. This could be an acoustic image, such as the sequence of phonemes that constitute a spoken word. Its function is to refer to the meaning, which is the mental representation or concept corresponding to that phonetic image.
- Example: The spoken word “tree” (the sound itself) is the signifier, while the mental image or concept of a tree is the meaning.
Signs and Symbols in Contemporary Culture
Contemporary culture is characterized by rapid change, pressing environmental problems, and inherent contradictions. It engages with numerous languages and imbues them with symbolic meanings. Our cities are saturated with both verbal and nonverbal messages. These messages transmit a complex array of emotions, moods, and ideas—sometimes clear, sometimes confused, and often contradictory.
Art serves as a profound means of interpreting reality. Furthermore, the media acts as a powerful resource, contributing not only to the interplay between diverse cultures but also, paradoxically, to their homogenization. We are increasingly influenced by an aesthetic of globalization, largely defined and disseminated by the media.