According to Daniel Chandler, codes and beliefs (certainly not limited to religious beliefs) act as a “framework” in which helps us to understand and construct signs and meanings.[1] It is a very complex study but can be simplified if we think about codes and beliefs in relation to one’s personal perspective of the world. Everyone’s worldview will differ in some capacity from another person’s view because people come from diverse back grounds and cultures that influence and shape the beliefs they have. It is important to recognize our own codes and how they help us to organize, value and understand our surroundings and then navigate through our experiences. The concept of codes within a semiotic context is extremely significant when we interact with art because that experience is purely subjective and shaped (unconsciously) by our codes.
[1] Chandler 147
Questions generated from examining the signs/signified concepts I have when looking at both the physical and virtual forms of Venus di Milo:
- Does the virtual model signify the physical form of Venus di Milo?
- How much does the state of being or form (either one) influence the signified concepts?
- Does your perception of the model change if you view it in VR space vs. a computer screen?
- How much does the environment surrounding the form influence the signified concepts (for example, if viewing the scanned model in a virtual replica of the Louvre vs. rotating a model in virtual blank space)?
- Does “form” or the state of being signify or does the concept/content signify?