I have been thinking about the process of blogging, as I am relatively new to it, and feel that it's useful to view blogging in terms of its function as a sign in the broadest sense of the word.
While a blog clearly contains written content, it may also be regarded as constituting a sign, as the writing itself signifies many things about the writer, such as their interests,intentions, their level of literacy and general education, amongst other things. In this sense, blogging fits neatly into the definition of communication proposed by cultural theorist Umberto Eco, who posited the idea that every type of cultural phenomenon constitutes communication. In this anthropological approach, newspapers, blogs, speech, graffiti etc can be analysed to unearth their implicit meaning(s).
So, taking this line of thought one step further, this post itself is a sign. Symbolising what? Maybe that I am interested in cultural theory, am a dilettante, am a pseudo intellectual...
Having an interest in cultural theory doesn't make you a dilettante or pseudo intellectual at all - other than to those who are hostile to such pursuits. A sign is exoteric and says what it means such as european road-signs, and contains no ambiguity, a symbol is alive and has a hidden unconscious content which can never be fully consciously realized such as the swastika or Christian cross. Blogging improves writing and interpretative skills, self-expression and proof-reading. Once embarked upon does not have to be engaged in forever and a day, as I am now realising 4 years later wit 250,000 words written and 250,000 visits.
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