The article discusses the relation between a semiotic of production and the semiotic production. The first term indicates a theoretical enquiry into a semiotical discussion of practices, the second the object of this theoretical effort. Is it possible to study practices using the same methodologies defined for other « objects » more traditionally considered by semiotics (i.e. textuality) ? Or may not this new object to be studied prompt for a radical change in some of the epistemological tenets of the discipline ? In order to develop this point, the paper discusses some recent contributions by Jacques Fontanille, in which the French semiotician assumes that a hierarchy of multiple levels can, on one side, take into account the new dimensions that the study of practices introduces into a semiotic epistemology, while, on the other side, it still preserves a local validity the « classic » textual approach. It is then suggested that Fontanille's propositions can be integrated with Eco's so-called theory of modes of semiotical production, introduced in the Trattato di semiotica generale (1975). Eco's categories fully develop a semiotical description of practices, and they provide a still to be discovered framework for a semiotic of praxis. In order to analytically test the validity of the Eco's proposal in the perspective of Fontanille's hierarchical context, some works of Alighiero Boetti (one of the most relevant Italian artists in the last thirty years) are the discussed. These works represent an interesting theoretical challenge as in some way seems to be objects (so that they can be also more traditionally thought as artistic « texts ») created to simply demonstrate the practice instantiating them.
"Mettre au monde le monde". Sur la relation entre sémiotique de la production et production sémiotique
VALLE, ANDREA
2009-01-01
Abstract
The article discusses the relation between a semiotic of production and the semiotic production. The first term indicates a theoretical enquiry into a semiotical discussion of practices, the second the object of this theoretical effort. Is it possible to study practices using the same methodologies defined for other « objects » more traditionally considered by semiotics (i.e. textuality) ? Or may not this new object to be studied prompt for a radical change in some of the epistemological tenets of the discipline ? In order to develop this point, the paper discusses some recent contributions by Jacques Fontanille, in which the French semiotician assumes that a hierarchy of multiple levels can, on one side, take into account the new dimensions that the study of practices introduces into a semiotic epistemology, while, on the other side, it still preserves a local validity the « classic » textual approach. It is then suggested that Fontanille's propositions can be integrated with Eco's so-called theory of modes of semiotical production, introduced in the Trattato di semiotica generale (1975). Eco's categories fully develop a semiotical description of practices, and they provide a still to be discovered framework for a semiotic of praxis. In order to analytically test the validity of the Eco's proposal in the perspective of Fontanille's hierarchical context, some works of Alighiero Boetti (one of the most relevant Italian artists in the last thirty years) are the discussed. These works represent an interesting theoretical challenge as in some way seems to be objects (so that they can be also more traditionally thought as artistic « texts ») created to simply demonstrate the practice instantiating them.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
