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Semiotic Theory and Environmental Evaluation: A Proposal For a New Approach and a New Method
Author(s) -
Pennartz Paul J. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
symbolic interaction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.874
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1533-8665
pISSN - 0195-6086
DOI - 10.1525/si.1989.12.2.231
Subject(s) - semiotics , symbolic interactionism , phenomenology (philosophy) , the symbolic , sign (mathematics) , meaning (existential) , relevance (law) , sociology , interpretation (philosophy) , epistemology , function (biology) , term (time) , social psychology , psychology , linguistics , social science , mathematics , law , mathematical analysis , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , evolutionary biology , political science , psychoanalysis , biology
People evaluate their physical, urban environment through processes of interpretation. The environment is considered a collection of signs with symbolic content. With meaning neglected as a central issue, current theories are lacking. The theoretical background of this study is semiotics, while elements are drawn from symbolic interactionism and phenomenology. By means of a case‐study the author has attempted to describe a new approach and methodology. The aim is to elucidate the processes underlying positive and negative evaluation of a modern shopping center. The analysis successively demonstrates differences in affective response, sign‐vehicles, codes and meanings and, lastly, in beliefs and values connected to structures of relevance and life‐situation of the consumer. The long‐term purpose of the study is to identify the codes and values that operate within the consumption and production of the urban environment, and to describe the function of urban elements as a potential counterbalance against the colonization processes of the life‐world.