Award Date

1-1-1998

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

First Committee Member

Lawrence Mullen

Number of Pages

56

Abstract

This study analyzes the mythical religious imagery of Gianni Versace through a visual semiotic analysis. The image being examined has characteristics of the religious martyrdom of St. Sebastian. Analyzing the St. Sebastian image via semiotics allows the visual message, produced by Gianni Versace, to be examined at multiple levels. Decoding this visual message allows for an understanding of ideologies, cultures, and possibly the maintenance of the status quo; Semiotics is a method of breaking down the visual sign to understand the visual messages. Semiotics contains three components, which are the signifier, the signified, and the sign. Each component, the signifier, the signified, and the sign, is interdependent thus constructing visual messages. This study addresses the effects of the designer's personal lifestyle, that may have influenced the message of the visual image under examination. Examining the personal lifestyle element attempts to address a limitation of semiotic theory analysis.

Keywords

Analysis; Gianni Versace; Italy; Myth; Semiotic; Versace; Visual

Controlled Subject

Mass media; Art; History; Design; Biography; Religion

File Format

pdf

File Size

1515.52 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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