On 13 October at 14:15 Krista Simson will defend her doctoral thesis "Visuaalkunsti väljendusvahendid semiootilise analüüsi kontekstis" ("Means of Expression in Visual Art in the Context of Semiotic Analysis") for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Semiotics and Culture Studies).
Supervisor:
Professor Peeter Torop, University of Tartu
Opponent:
Professor Ülo Pikkov, Estonian Academy of Arts
Summary
The thesis “Means of expression of visual art in the context of semiotic analysis” investigates possibilities for integrating visual semiotic analysis and art practices. Its central claim is that visual semiotic analysis can be integrated with art practices, only if the analysis of the processes of interpreting visual art is accompanied by a study of processes used in the creation of works of art.
The semiotic analysis of the elements and the composition of a visual artwork is approached from a process-oriented perspective. From a visual semiotics perspective, the examination of meaning-making elements and the compositions they form is a microlevel analysis. The principles of microlevel compositions are reflected in both larger units of meaning and discourse as a whole. The study therefore employs a generative and comprehensive approach, rather than focusing on an analysis of specific creative processes. From the perspective of the theoretical framework, it was important to observe the process by which the theoretical impulses of the early 20th-century Russian formalist school and avant-garde art were transferred to the art semiotics of the Prague Linguistic Circle and avant-garde practices were integrated into new media solutions.
The contribution of the thesis lies in mapping the foundations for integrating semiotic analysis and visual art practices, as well as in outlining the terminology necessary for this integration. Considering the explosive increase in visual communication, the author posits that it is important from the perspective of semiotics as a discipline to integrate semiotic analysis with theories and practices of visual art.
Defence can also be followed in Zoom (meeting ID: 938 7827 7466, passcode 313551).
