An Introduction to Applied Semiotics presents nineteen semiotics tools for text and image analysis. Covering a variety of different schools and approaches, together with the author's own original approach, this is a full and synthetic introduction to semiotics. This book presents general tools that can be used with any semiotic product. Drawing on the work of Fontanille, Genette, Greimas, Hebert, Jakobson, Peirce, Rastier and Zilberberg, the tools deal with the analysis of themes and action, true and false, positive and negative, rhythm narration and other elements.

The application of each tool is illustrated with analyses of a wide range of texts and images, from well-known or distinctive literary texts, philosophical or religious texts or images, paintings, advertising and everyday signs and symbols. Each chapter has the same structure - summary, theory and application, making it ideal for course use.

Covering both visual and textual objects, this is a key text for all courses in semiotics and textual analysis within linguistics, communication studies, literary theory, design, marketing and related areas.

About the Author

Louis Hebert is a professor of literature at the Universite du Quebec a Rimouski (UQAR, Canada). His research focuses primarily on semiotics (textual and visual), interpretive semantics, the methodology of literary analysis, Magritte and Buddhism.

His publications include Cours de semiotique [Course in Semiotics] (Paris, Classique Garnier), L'analyse des textes litteraires: une methodologie complete [Literary Text Analysis: A Complete Methodology] (Paris, Classiques Garnier) and Introduction a la semantique des textes [An Introduction to the Semantics of Texts] (Paris, Honore Champion). He is the editor or co-editor of five collective books. He is the editor of the Dictionnaire de semiotique (http://www.signosemio.com/documents/dictionnaire-semiotique-generale.pdf), as well as of the bilingual website Signo-Theoretical Semiotics on the Web (www.signosemio.com) and an online database of nearly all of the works and themes of Rene Magritte (www.magrittedb.com).

Reviews

Louis Hebert presents in this book, in a systematic and nevertheless very personal way, several key models of general semiotics and semantics, associated with a series of concrete texts and images analyses. He offers thus a textbook, which is reliable and precise, eclectic and consistent, for all students and teachers who seek firm and proven methods for the analysis of textual and visual works.

Jacques Fontanille, Universite de Limoges, France

This textbook offers a treasure trove of concepts and interpretive strategies invaluable for analyzing texts, films, images, and practices. Succinct and lucid presentations accompanied by numerous examples, practical tips, and diagrams render it eminently accessible to students. Hebert's originality and inclusive outlook yield refreshing perspectives on the topics.

Thomas F. Broden, Purdue University, USA

Book Information
ISBN 9780367351120
Author Louis Hebert
Format Paperback
Page Count 302
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 517g