Semiotics as Theory and Method! Aleksei Semenenko (aleksei.semenenko@umu.

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The course begins on week 4 (24 January) and continues through week 16 (subject to changes).
The course introduces semiotics as an interdisciplinary approach, focusing on the concepts of sign,
meaning, communication, culture, cognition, etc. We will be discussing various theories and research
areas within semiotics, e.g., cultural semiotics, cognitive semiotics, visual and social semiotics. Basing on
these theories, your final assignment will be to write a semiotic analysis of a certain phenomenon,
alternatively a sketch of an academic paper/thesis.
The course consists of two parts:
Semiotics I (5 credits): group discussions at seminars. Obligatory attendance and active participation at
seminars.
Semiotics II (2.5 credits): an essay of 2000–3000 words. We are going to use the following books that
you have to acquire as soon as possible:

Chandler, Daniel. Semiotics: the basics. Third edition. Routledge, 2017. Please note that previous
editions are outdated!
Cobley, Paul. The communication theory reader. Routledge, 1996. Selected chapters. 2,3,7,9, 10, 11,
12, 20,21
P.262

Other course materials are linked in each module.

The course begins on week 4 (24 January) and continues through week 16 (subject to changes).

The detailed schedule: https://umu.zoom.us/j/69451884784

Seminar 1: Thu 3 February 16:00–17:30

Seminar 2: Thu 17 February

Seminar 3: Fri 4 March

Seminar 4: Thu 17 March

Seminar 5: Thu 31 March

Seminars are obligatory; every missed seminar is compensated for by an extra assignment. Contact me
to receive instructions. If you miss more than two seminars, you will not be able to pass the course.