Semiotics

In linguistics, semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of sign processes (semiosis), or signification and communication, signs and symbols.

Thank you Wiki what would i do without you.

This was the content of my latest lecture on the world of critical thinking within the media. It struck me that it was mostly about over analysing ideas that everyone not only understands but also use on a regular day to day basis. But I'm going to try and salvage something from this.

Iconic (realist) and Arbitrary (abstract)

To have a character that is iconic is to have things about it that give it strong links to what it is portraying. Let us say the film the 'Thing' 1982 which was essentially a remake of the 'The thing from another world' 1951.
Basically the film is about a group of scientists that discover an alien frozen in the ice, having crawled out of its crashed space ship. Once thawed out it reanimates, the creature infects other living creatures and takes them over on a cellular level. The creature then absorbs this person into its self and imitates the human in looks and behaviour, however when cornered it will morph into a monster with massive jaws and flailing tentacles to better defend itself. Its strength lies in its ability to blend in and take people over one by one.

You could say that when the creature is using the shape of a person it is 'Iconic' not only in looks but sounds and behavior, it is perfect representation. However when it morphs it becomes 'Arbitrary'. In its new form it is abstract in appearance and behaviour and not to mention truly horrifying.

No scene better demonstrates this than the one where Norris's head detaches from his body and runs away like a creature separate from an the parent animal, which in the film is exactly what it is. I was reminded of this scene when my lecturer did a similar comparison with the idea of a monster walking away on its nostrils.