<STEEV SAID>So, maybe this isnt so off-topic, because what we have here are
corporations that are appropriating language and images, taking it out of
context, until gradually symbols have an infinite (or nearly) number
of meanings. And at that point, they also mean... nothing.</STEEV SAID>
Corps aren't the only groups that do that. People have been given new
meanings to symbols ever since there was a need. How many different uses
of the words "cool" or "love" can you think of? Context now seems more
important to communication than the actual symbols. It is a fact that more
advanced cultures use less symbols in their alphabets than alphabets of
more "primitve" cultures.
Human minds search for meaning. People draw conclusions regardless of how
many other people's definitions a given symbol has. How can it be said
that words mean nothing? I guess I need to read that article ;^)
"1 + 1 = 3 or more."
-dan
Steev Hise <steevATdetritus.net> on 11/08/99 09:23:34 PM
Please respond to rumoriATdetritus.net
To: rumoriATdetritus.net
cc: (bcc: Dan Serkland/National/NISH)
Subject: [rumori] more on advertising
returning to the ever-running advertising thread. off-topic, as always,
but everyone seems to be really into it, so i will share this:
from an article by Jonathan Dee in Emigre #49 (the "Everything is for
Sale" issue):
"The real violence [of advertising], though, lies not in the ways in which
these messages are forced upon us but in the notion they embody that words
can be made to mean anything, which is hard to distinguish from the idea
that words mean nothing."
This is interesting stuff. Basically he is discussing the fact that
advertising is becoming more and more separated from the product it is
trying to sell. One example he cites is the "Think Different" campaign.
The ads could be for anything.
So, maybe this isnt so off-topic, because what we have here are
corporations that are appropriating language and images, taking it out of
context, until gradually symbols have an infinite (or nearly) number
of meanings. And at that point, they also mean... nothing.
Anyway, the issue is highly recommended, it also has articles by Tom Frank
of the Baffler, Kalle Lasn of Adbusters, Carrie of Stay Free!, and all the
other usual suspects...
smh
Steev Hise, Nervert
steevAThise.org http://www.cyborganic.com/people/steev
recycled art site: http://www.detritus.net
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