The semiotics of blogging

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...

Embrace - Come Back To What You Know

I just heard this anthemic indie classic on the Dermot O'Leary show on Radio 2.  What a great, uplifting track.

PIXIES - GREENS AND BLUES

 

Awesome return to form for the Pixies.  This track taken from EP2.

Plain Sailing

Not another dodgy boating metaphor, but the title of an excellent music compilation that I stumbled across on a recent sonic ramble. The artists featured range from the familiar, such as Ben Watt, to the more obscure singer songwriters such as Tim Rose and Kathy Smith. Although the featured artists come from different eras, all share a unique approach to performing exquisite acoustic songs. One of the lessons that I have taken away from a good listen to  this album is that the unsung and underachievers often have most to offer if we would only give them the opportunity to spellbind us.

Ian Hislop's Olden Days

It was good to watch a programme dealing intelligently with the subject of historiography (the writing of history) last night on BBC2.  Ian Hislop investigated how King Arthur and Alfred the Great have been viewed during different periods of British history.  Whereas Arthur has always been a semi-mythological character, Alfred has generally been seen as the founder of key British institutions.  Hislop's programme clearly showed how the prominence of both characters has ebbed and flowed from epoch to epoch, according to the demands of the time.  It will be interesting to see how the series progresses.  Next week's programme will examine the Victorian era's re-imagining of Medieval times.

 

 

 

Augustines - Nothing To Lose But Your Head

I've really enjoyed listening to Augustines, after discovering them earlier this year.  Their Springsteenesque exuberance and emoting is quite refreshing and reassuring to these tired old ears!

It's been a while...

So, I've just returned to post again after an absence of four years!  During that time I have changed my job, have got married and have become a granddad.  How time flies!  In my initial post, I voiced my aspiration to get to grips with blogging.  Maybe the time for that is now?  We'll have to see.  I suppose I will just try to post on matters that interest me, such as music, current affairs, film, TV, books and education as I feel inspired to hurl nuggets of prose out into the ether.  So let's drag the metaphorical blogging boat along the pebbly beach, out into the unfamiliar grey waters of the blogging ocean.  Jump aboard before you get any wetter, and watch out for the foam flecked waves surging towards us...