Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising.

[Dunamis]

I just looked to see if there was a comprehensive thread, but none exists, just individual ones. So here goes, here's a thread to specifically cover the topic of symbolism in mass media.

Just watching Machete and this came up...


Symbols: Fist in the air, black & white clothing contrast and "owl" Frost Bank building in down-town Austin.

When you consider they had to get her standing on a car to get the shot as well, they clearly wanted it. Maybe Rodriguez is a little more self educated than the average film director and it's actually a message being sent to certain groups, Bankers, Masons etc.

[Swordfish]

Pareidolia
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon or the Moon rabbit, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse.

[Dunamis]

(02-20-2011 10:58 AM)Swordfish Wrote:  Pareidolia
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon or the Moon rabbit, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse.

Not really a good definition of what I have done. No clouds or other natural formations involved, and it's not about sound.

Clearly you missed the study of sign systems.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiotics

Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of cultural sign processes (semiosis), analogy, metaphor, signification and communication, signs and symbols. Semiotics is closely related to the field of linguistics, which in its part, studies the structure and meaning of language more specifically. Semiotics is usually divided into three branches, which include:

* Semantics: Relation between signs and the things to which they refer; their denotata, or meaning
* Syntactics: Relations among signs in formal structures
* Pragmatics: Relation between signs and the effects they have on the people who use them

Semiotics for Beginners by Daniel Chandler @ Aberystwyth University, a world renowned UK University.

[icosaface]

Very interesting, thanks Dunamis.

[Swordfish]

Quote:Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound)

Often means not exclusive to and which would therefore include an image ...which is exactly what you presented. ie a random still from a film.
Are you suggesting that anyone with a black and white shirt on is a mason? Try going to a Newcastle football match

Im well acquainted with semiotics and symbology thank you but lets not get all tinfoil hat over random pictures.

...oooh just noticed, the necklace looks like a compass

[Dunamis]

(02-21-2011 10:58 PM)Swordfish Wrote:  

Quote:Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound)

Often means not exclusive to and which would therefore include an image ...which is exactly what you presented. ie a random still from a film.
Are you suggesting that anyone with a black and white shirt on is a mason? Try going to a Newcastle football match

Im well acquainted with semiotics and symbology thank you but lets not get all tinfoil hat over random pictures.

...oooh just noticed, the necklace looks like a compass

What? My names not Texe Marrs, I never mentioned Masonry! You interpret my meanings yourself my friend, it seems you who is more of a tin foil mad hatter, reading things that aren't there and all...

And the random still is actually just because I couldn't be bothered going and ripping the 5 second clip and uploading it all just for you.

When studying film (man made, directed and put together), semiotics is directly related. When studying clouds, patterns in dirt or seeing patterns in random words from a newspaper then pareidolia would be more applicable.

[Swordfish]

So pray tell us then what exactly you were implying by the black and white clothing contrast?
...unless you are secretly Gok Wan making a fashion comment "girlfriend"?


Heres a random picture of 2 cats. Perhaps they represent the twin towers and they are black and white so are masonic. They are facing towards each other so this tells us that "they" control both the left and right arms of government.

For information, Pareidolia can apply to man made just as well as natural objects. Ask Mr Google

There are some very good examples of symbolism in movies See here but providing us with a random picture and making an assertion that "it's actually a message being sent to certain groups, Bankers, Masons etc." on the basis of a fist, black and white clothing and a building is lame.

...hey I wasnt imagining the masonic link after all eh

[Dunamis]

Eh? That would be a little dumb as the implication was that it could be a message to such people, so why would I suggest the character with the first in the air (a symbol often used in communism, an anti-masonic way) was in fact portraying a masonic symbol?

So yes, you are imagining the masonic link to the black and white, that link is clearly with the owl...here's my largest local masonic hall:


I say local, it's still a fair few miles as I am in a rural area.

Notice also the "maybe" at the beginning of the sentence that clearly throws just an idea of the possibility of the overall meaning. You could have asked if my mentioning the masonic possibility was directly related to the black and white. I wouldn't say the yin-yang symbol I grew up around (through my mother in my younger years) is masonic

[Swordfish]

Well at least you agree my imagination wasnt playing tricks and you were implying a masonic link to the picture.

So again can you answer then why exactly you did mention the black and white if not suggesting it was masonic?

The point I am making dunamis is that you are asserting a symbolic link to some vague end, without even giving a context in the film, and based on nothing else. It says nothing and as you rightly say "the "maybe" at the beginning of the sentence that clearly throws just an idea of the possibility of the overall meaning".

My cat picture has as much relevance as yours in that case

So what you are saying is that you agree with me that this is a random picture which has no real evidence of being a "hidden message" but it might have.....
Thats not symbolism thats just paranoia.
Rule of holes boyo ...when you are in one stop digging!

[springhawk]

Machete is full of symbols, stereotypes and
it has no shades of grey just like a comic book

The still in question has Jessica Alba saying. . .

"We did not cross the border, the border crossed us."

And since government and business are the bad
guys, slipping in the Illuminati just makes them
more evil.

[Dunamis]

I think maybe Swordfish just wanted it spelt out. Though how the cat image has as much relevance in a "Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising." I don't know.

This is all besides the point though as the thread is simply as it is, nothing MORE nothing less.

The thread isn't titled "Explanations of Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising" or even "Analysis of Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising". If it were, such explanations would have been given. I was hoping others would post images etc that each individual who is interested can study for themselves, now instead it's been hijacked, so I may just close it and start again with a disclaimer for those who expected more than the title offered...


...plus, did you miss that I was half way through the movie (and rushing) when I posted... "Just watching Machete and this came up..."

[Swordfish]

No, Swordfish didnt want it spelt out, she wanted to point out it doesnt make sense.

So you still arent going to tell us why you brought up the black and white clothing then dunamis?
(third time of asking) sheesh you must be a politician....

Quote:The thread isn't titled "Explanations of Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising" or even "Analysis of Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising".

Sounds like it is just an invitation to post anything then which includes my cat picture

agree you should close the thread though
...but dont be downhearted, tomorrows another day

[Dunamis]

(02-24-2011 09:15 PM)Swordfish Wrote:  

Quote:The thread isn't titled "Explanations of Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising" or even "Analysis of Symbology in movies, entertainment and advertising".

Sounds like it is just an invitation to post anything then which includes my cat picture

Oh yea, that's, it's a screenshot from family guy!

(02-24-2011 09:15 PM)Swordfish Wrote:  So you still arent going to tell us why you brought up the black and white clothing then dunamis?
(third time of asking) sheesh you must be a politician....

I simply mentioned it because the other two were clear, it was only after starting the thread that I thought to simply mention the black and white as it is often used in symbology (Kemet - Horus and Set, Yin Yang, Duality etc).

Why are you here? You've clearly joined a forum that's not to your liking, so why bother coming back as you have nothing constructive to add in your disagreements?

[Swordfish]

Why are any of us here?
If you look back you will see that I go to lengths to expand on and explain my views, and which may differ from some other people.

You seem to have concluded that I dont like the forum based on comments I am making which disagree with your assessment of a picture only and because I am asking for your rationale which is not apparent to me.
Thats a leap.

Having your views challenged is good practice for when you talk to sheeple and also develops your critical thinking.
Ive been on this site for more years than I can recall and learnt more about topics by having detailed discussion and challenge than I ever did with compliance to the rules of etiquette, or having my wrist slapped for asking questions.
I may challenge but I have never said anything racist, anti jew, condoned violence or suggested that we should eat babies. I have also contributed to many topics using my professional expertise and experiences.

Isnt the whole idea of a forum that people can have different views?
There are only about a couple of dozen posters at most on the site now and if anyone comes here expecting to be agreed with every time its unrealistic.
Lets not take ourselves too seriously, there is very little on this forum that is information, its just social networking, the information is on the tracker itself. Of the thousands of members, very few join in the forums because they just want to download info and you only have to look at some of the forum threads to see that.


You can take away my forum log in, but youll never take away my freeeeeeedommmmmm! (courtesy of braveheart)

[Dunamis]

(02-25-2011 10:29 AM)Swordfish Wrote:  Why are any of us here?
If you look back you will see that I go to lengths to expand on and explain my views, and which may differ from some other people.

You seem to have concluded that I dont like the forum based on comments I am making which disagree with your assessment of a picture only and because I am asking for your rationale which is not apparent to me.
Thats a leap.

Having your views challenged is good practice for when you talk to sheeple and also develops your critical thinking.
Ive been on this site for more years than I can recall and learnt more about topics by having detailed discussion and challenge than I ever did with compliance to the rules of etiquette, or having my wrist slapped for asking questions.
I may challenge but I have never said anything racist, anti jew, condoned violence or suggested that we should eat babies. I have also contributed to many topics using my professional expertise and experiences.

Isnt the whole idea of a forum that people can have different views?
There are only about a couple of dozen posters at most on the site now and if anyone comes here expecting to be agreed with every time its unrealistic.
Lets not take ourselves too seriously, there is very little on this forum that is information, its just social networking, the information is on the tracker itself. Of the thousands of members, very few join in the forums because they just want to download info and you only have to look at some of the forum threads to see that.


You can take away my forum log in, but youll never take away my freeeeeeedommmmmm! (courtesy of braveheart)

I answered your question and you dropped the discussion direction?