On the 2nd of February we had a
lecture about Iconography and Iconology, Iconography is derived from the Greek
word, image, and to write. It focuses on the study of symbols depicted in work,
art and design and it is the identification and description of the content of
images. Symbols that are used often come from previous understanding, for
example a skull and crossbones or a dove are widely recognized among many
cultures. Images in general are very polysemic and for this reason it is the
previous understand that we need to allow us to interpret the message at hand.
Iconology involves the study of meaning behind the symbolism, the image has to
be put into context and understood wholly in terms of the artist or timeframe
it was created in. After looking at the examples displayed in the lecture I
decided to find some of my own to anaylse to better understand the meaning
behind the iconography and iconology.
This is a perfect example; the primary
picture is very simplistic, hardly resembling the content of the image at all.
If the viewer does not have the context off the images then they do not
understand the references to Disney films. The second image is simply a
crescent shape, however people who have watched the film understand that it is
the cats smile.
As said before, the images are accompanied
by text to allow the viewer to put the icons into context, the viewer would not
make the link to the films as the designs are extremely simplistic, however
with the accompaniment of the text it allows the viewer to put it into context
and then recall iconic moments in the film and relate it to the symbolism shown
in the designs.