Is that a Dog to you?

Words mean nothing. Language doesn’t stand for anything. How could this be true when we communicate orally? Or if language and words mean nothing how can you be reading and understanding this right now? It is true in that words point to something else, ideas. This way of thinking refers to Semiotics. Semiotics is the science of signs. Several things point to an idea of something else.
What makes a dog a dog? Four legs, a body, and a “ruff ruff” sound. Why do those things point to a dog? A Swiss linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure said that there is a gap or space between material expression and the meaning or interpretation of that expression. THIS + THIS = THIS or SIGNIFIER + SIGNIFIED= SIGN. A signifier represents the physical or material and the signified represents the idea. Together they make the sign of something. Communication takes place when the signifier and signified are added together.
The signifier and signified could also be looked at as:
IMAGE + IDEA= SIGN
OBJECT + SUBJECT = SIGN
EXPRESSION + PERCEPTION=SIGN
REAL + IDEAL= SIGN
Thus a “ruff ruff” sound would be a signifier and the idea that dogs make that sound would be the signified so together they point to a dog.
According to the American pragmatist, Charles Pierce there are three types of relationships between the signifier and signified. The first being a symbolic relationship were the relationship is arbitrary. The sign is a symbol like scales which can signify justice. The second type is indexical where the relationship is existential and the signs co-exist at some time. The sign is an index. The third type is iconic where the signifier structurally resembles its signified. The sign is an icon such as a statue or map. These types do not create categories rather help us understand the space between a signifier and signified.
In addition to SIGNIFER + SIGNIFIED = SIGN, Roland Barthes generated that there are three levels of signification. The first being denotation where the signifier is the image itself and the signified is an index like the dictionary definition of a word. Here one interprets only what they see and recognize. The second is connotation where denotation is used as a signifier and then that signifier creates another signified. The third is ideology where the signifier is combined with the denotative and connotative sign and then creates another signified. Ideology deals with society and how beliefs of society point to a sign. What something means or signifies is based on society's views and beliefs.
Signs make sense in relations and opposites. Happy does not make sense if one does not know what is sad. Semiotics is the science of signs and that everything points to something else. We communicate through adding something physical with an idea. Words are thus only sounds and letters. Language is an endless array of ideas more than words in a dictionary.

Career Aspirations

A poor little country girl gets run over by an arrogant hip-hop star only to saved by a self-professed “diva” (definition of a hustler). Not to mention blood on stage and questionable face masks. Expect nothing less from MTV’s Video Music Awards for these types of moments are regular occurrences in today’s entertainment industry. I want a career in today’s entertainment industry.
I have always loved music ever since I was little. I remember watching MTV as far back as I can remember. I do not know if watching MTV when one is young is a good thing but I know I watched it for the music, back when they had music. Whenever asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I never said a doctor, teacher, or any of those occupations that have children toys based on them. I always replied that I wanted to be a singer. As I got older I realized a successful singing career or at least a career involving thousands of screaming fans and worldwide tours was more of a dream than reality. Instead of being on stage why not work behind the scenes with the celebrities.
This thought brought me to my current career path. There are many jobs in the entertainment industry but I have narrowed it down to a few. Public relations and being a publicist interests me for the reason that I believe promoting a person, product, and business would be something that I would be good at and would enjoy. Similar to marketing as well I believe I know or can learn what the public wants and market that product to them and get their attention. Working at a record company grabs my attention as well seeing as I have a passion for music. I am also interested in television. In being the on-air talent, an entertainment reporter so I can witness Lady Gaga’s unique wardrobe up close on the red carpet and then report on all the shocking events the next day. Or to research and write the entertainment stories of the day since I look them up or watch them everyday anyway. Fashion as I see it intermixes with entertainment or is a part of entertainment. Celebrities are always asked who they are wearing or photographed for their outfit choices. Public relations and marketing dealing with fashion are also careers I have in mind.
My career path has never changed since I was young. Entertainment, celebrities, music, and people have always been the major interests of mine. People say do a job that you like or love and I wouldn’t like to do anything else. Promotion, marketing, and entertainment journalism are my fields of interest. Moreover many celebrities are branching out in ways like having more businesses. Or many media businesses are under one brand. Media mogul would be the top dream career of mine. Oprah is getting older, yet someone I admire, people like Diddy are just annoying, and most major media companies are headed by older men. Someone else can come along and fill their shoes.