Devastation and Excitement

Devastation and Excitement

Category 5 hurricane, landfall, would not have the resources, catastrophe, signifiers that conceptualizes the natural disaster. This chronological listing gives way to a Jamaican assuming that in the event of such extreme disastrous occurrence there will be implications, however without the appropriate facilities and tools the result could be devastation. Ferdinand de Saussure theories that based on culture one applies their own meaning to a text, formula, sign = signifier + signified. The signifier, sound, word or image, in this case are words that brings meaning to the signified. The signified is the concept behind the actual signified and not the tangible evidence.

The two photographs presented on slide nine of the slide show depict signs of a catastrophe, with obvious signifier, signified and structural perspectives.

The first picture displays a flooded Jamaican street, from the evidence of garbage and debris; there was flowing of water that transported this on to the street. The buildings are signifiers that this is a town setting with business places, however due to the circumstances it is a ‘ghost town’, only one person present. The weather is bleak, signifies depression which is linked to the individual in photograph walking with their head hanging facedown. The structural perspective of this picture is depression, sadness, utter confusion based on the cultural view of hurricanes.

The other picture, has a similar effect on viewer, yet another message is conveyed based on the characters present in the scene and ones cultural experience. Despite the flooding, water covering males feet we see the female being carried smiling. The female maybe smiling because she is being carried or maybe based on culture we assume that she is contented despite the situation she is in. She give the impression of safety in the company of male which is a cultural sign of protection. As it relates to the atmosphere, there is signified...