5.587 B.C.-A.D. 70: On Several Regimes of Signs
1. Overview of Regimes of Signs
A regime of signs refers to a specific formalization of expression, often linguistic, that forms a semiotic system. Analyzing these systems presents challenges as content and expression are inseparable; while formalization may appear autonomous, it is intrinsic to a complex assemblage. The diversity of expression forms complicates privileging any one regime, revealing that semiology is merely one among many regimes, suggesting a return to pragmatics.
2. The Signifying Regime
In the signifying regime, every sign is indicative of another sign, creating an endless chain of signs, known as the signifying chain. The concept highlights the limitlessness of signifiance, focusing on the formal relationships between signs rather than direct denotation or representation of entities. There is less emphasis on indexes (indicators from things) and icons (visual operations), concentrating instead on signs as symbols involved in constant referral movements. This results in signs being highly deterritorialized, which may create a sense of impotence and uncertainty, while simultaneously conveying significant power through the chain of signs.
3. Circularity of Signs
Signs circulate in an infinite network, never fully encapsulating their initial objects or meanings. Cultural examples, such as the different tribal responses to cheating (e.g., Crow vs. Hopi), illustrate how various cultural backgrounds interpret disruptions in signs differently.
4. Mechanisms of Interpretation
The need for interpretation is pronounced as the role of signifiers transitions into the interpretation of signified, leading to the formation of complex hierarchical systems. Interpretations are perpetuated through the signifying process, resulting in the re-imparting of signifiers.
5. The Despot-God and Faciality
Faciality serves as a pivotal element within the signifying regime, bolstering the substance of signs and assisting in their interpretation. The nature of surveillance is connected to the face's role as an omnipresent form of control, influencing themes of publicness and deception. This dynamic also reveals the relationships between those in power and the marginalized, often expressed through both metaphorical and literal representations of suffering.
6. Scapegoat Dynamics
Scapegoats symbolize rising entropy within the signifying system, carrying that which resists conventional signification. Curses and lines of flight emerge as social systems frequently repress or negatively encode resistance, with scapegoats metaphorically identified as animals or objects of disdain.
7. Mixed Semiotics
Empires and nomadic cultures showcase different semiotic systems coexisting within societies, exhibiting both presignifying and signifying elements. The concept of countersigning semiotics aligns with nomadic cultures, where number and organization play a vital role in structure and social organization.
8. Postsignifying Regime
The postsignifying regime emphasizes subjectification, characterized by linear and individual-based interpretations, focusing more on the individual's emotional response than systemic structures. The impact of the Jewish narrative traces the evolution from imperious narrative significance towards subjective interpretations, highlighting a shift from grandeur to existential crisis.
9. Transformation and Pragmatics
This section explores how sign systems can transform, studying how pure semiotics can morph into different forms, contributing to the creative process of language. The differentiation between generative and prophetic dynamics reveals various systems of meaning in language, distinguishing prophetic language from descriptive or interpretive standards.
10. Conclusion
Ultimately, understanding pragmatics through regimes of signs unveils the complex interplay between meaning, expression, and societal function. Emerging abstract machines signify that every semiotic system operates beyond mere linguistic frameworks, reflecting intricate societal constructs and subjective realities.
