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"A Semiotic Study of Meaning in the Works of Henri Cartier-Bresson Based on Roland Barthes' Theories"
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Yeganeh Amiri   , Amir Dastmardi |
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Abstract: (64 Views) |
This article adopts a semiotic approach to analyze one of Henri Cartier-Bresson's iconic photographs, focusing on the representation of a child within a documentary yet ideologically charged context. The theoretical framework of this study integrates Edmund Feldman’s four-step model (description, formal analysis, interpretation, and evaluation) alongside Roland Barthes’ semiotic theories—particularly the concepts of "ideological meaning" and "myth." In the first stage, the image is described based on visual elements such as composition, lighting, the positioning of the child, and the presence of posters in the background. This descriptive phase offers a neutral and technical account of the photograph's formal qualities. The second phase involves analyzing the structural relationships among these visual elements to reveal how they affect the viewer’s perception.The core of the article lies in its semiotic interpretation. Here, the child is examined not as a neutral subject, but as a cultural and social sign that conveys ideological meaning. The final phase evaluates the image based on its effectiveness in transmitting meaning and its broader socio-cultural impact. From Barthes' perspective, this photograph—despite its seemingly objective appearance—functions to reproduce and naturalize dominant ideological discourses. The child, as a visual signifier of innocence, vulnerability, or moral worthiness, is situated within a web of signs that subtly reinforce class-based, social, or cultural assumptions.
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| Keywords: Roland Barthes, Semiotic Interpretation, Feldman's Method, Denotation, Connotation, Ideological Meaning. |
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Full-Text [PDF 1136 kb]
(22 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2025/04/29 | Accepted: 2025/06/23 | Published: 2025/06/23
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