Definitions for Project 2 / Assignment 2

Definitions

Metaphor - noun

The definition of a metaphor is "a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another. For example, "the curtain of night" or "all the world's a stage". http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphor   

Allegory – An allegory is a story with two levels of meaning. First, there's the surface of the story; the characters and plot and all that obvious stuff. Then there's the symbolic level, or the deeper meaning that all the jazz on the surface represents.

The symbolic meaning of an allegory can be political or religious, historical or philosophical. Allegories are kind of like massive metaphors, but they usually come in narrative form—that is, they're told through stories. http://www.shmoop.com/literature-glossary/allegory.html

Definitions of words and phrases during Project One

Definition - denotation and connotation

"Denotation is the literal meaning of the word or image, Connotation is the association (emotional or otherwise) which the word or image evokes in a particular viewer.  This will largely depend on cultural factors like race, education, political stance, etc.  An example of this is Dorothea Lange's image of a migrant mother.  This powerful image denotes despair, hopelessness and suffering; it connotes that society either doesn't care or had simply forgotten that such people existed and needed help."  Quote from the Gesture & Meaning project book, page 26.

Punctum:

Point or small area in a picture; precise location of something; a spatially limited location.

Barthes definition of Punctum:

The punctum in a photograph are those (accidental) details (often in the background) that provides no explanation but instead creates questions on the surrounding people in those photographs.

Polysemic:

having more than one meaning, multiple meanings.

Canard:

a deliberately misleading fabrication; (n) an unfounded or false deliberately misleading story; a false or baseless usually derogatory story, report or rumour.

Define eugenics

The science of improving a population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics.

Reading about Gordon Parks project on segregation in the USA and about eugenics which is based on the idea that some characteristics are ‘better’ than others and that you can improve the human gene pool by encouraging reproduction between people with desirable genetic traits and discouraging reproduction amongst those with less desirable traits. 

From Chapter 4 in course reader: 

Phrenology

The study of the conformation of the skull based on the belief that it is indicative of mental faculties and character

Physiognomy

The art of determining character or personal characteristics from the form or features of the body, especially of the face.

Objectification

In social philosophy, objectification means treating a person as a thing, without regard to their dignity.

Addendum to Definitions

When I'm working through these exercises and assignments in the module Gesture & Meaning I know I'll come across words and phrases that I don't recognise.  I've decided to put them all in this section as a way of refreshing my memory.   I'll update the post as I find new words so there won't be a huge number of posts, just one but added to as and when necessary.

This was a major problem when I started on the Landscape module as there were so many words and phrases that I just didn't understand and would never use in normal conversation, let alone an arty conversation.  Plus Landscape was not my strongest subject and the first project was so dry, it was unbelievable.

I'm glad I made the effort to change over to G&M as it has stimulated me to work hard to get on.