Semiotics is a branch of hermeneutics, the philosophical study of MEANING.
Here, much more accessibly, we are dealing mostly with the MESSAGE. A message results from the accumulation of signs. A message is an arrangement of signs organized according to a particular code that is familiar both to the sender and the receiver.
Take a look at this cartoon. It appeared in what is undoubtedly the best written magazine in America, The New Yorker, a very progressive publication with a stellar reputation for integrity and accuracy.
Background: Amazon.com, that by now is the largest book distributor in the world, not long ago started pressuring book publishers to lower their prices below the standard $9.99 for ebooks. The lower the price, the higher the sales and the more profit for Amazon. Most publishers were very unhappy but went along. Hachette decided to reject the imposition. Amazon started boycotting the sale of Hachette books, causing a drop in sales.
Hachette, most of all, supported the complaints of writers who saw their share of the sales go down every time Amazon forced publishers to lower the prices.
This is how The New Yorker characterized the bargaining methods of Amazon.
COMMENT in TWO PARAGRAPHS
1) In your opinion, who were the people who complained about this cartoon? Why did they complain?
2) In your opinion, were they right to complain?
I hope to elicit a variety of responses. Try to break the mold of conformism. What "signs" in particular people found offensive?
1. I assume that Italian Americans were very upset about the cartoon. I’m sure they complained because in this cartoon they’re shown as mobsters who have come to do something violent.
ReplyDeleteIt just shows how strong stereotypes about the mob are because without using words we can understand what is implied.
2. I believe they were right to complain because it’s just keeping the stereotype about Italian Americans really strong. This shows signs like the workout clothes, and suit signifying an Italian mobster.
Ivy,
DeleteI agree with your thoughts. It is very unfair to make these harsh judgments. They had every right to complain.
I completely agree as well. It's obvious that they were referring to the Italians also known as the mafias. Italians are always portrayed as such in movies.
Delete1. The people who complained in this cartoon were the publishers who were putting their books on Amazon. Since they are getting paid lower rates of kemp per book, they end up having to get many more sales to keep up with their old rates.
ReplyDelete2. They were right to complain because the publishers are the ones who do most of the work when it comes to getting the book known. Publishing books on amazon is very tedious and takes a lot of time, therefore I believe that they did have a right to complain about the price that amazon dropped it to.
In my opinion the people who complained about this cartoon were probably those who were selling their books to amazon(the publishers as well as the writers). I believe that the reason that they were complaining is because not only did Amazon want them to drop the selling price of the books to make more money, but also because by doing so this was causing the amount of money thatthey made to drop. Amazon seemed to be getting a fair share of the money from the sales while those who actually wrote or published the books were making less.
ReplyDelete2.Yes,I do believe that they were right to complain because it isn't fair that the ones who wrote the books and published them were making less money because of another companies desire to sell their books. It isn't right that those who did most of the work would get less money. In my opinion it shows an underappreciation for the work that they had to do.
I agree with your point about them being able to complain. You're right it isn't fair that the sellers of the books are loosing money to such a large book selling website.
Delete1. In my opinion, the people who complained about this cartoon were the book publishers who noticed that their shares in book sales were dropping. They were boycotting Amazon who wanted to pair with Hachette and did allow Amazon to come in for a meeting. They had realized that they weren't being paid unfairly and wanted to receive what they deserved.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, they were right to complain because they have the right to stand up for what they believe in. The book publishers were supposed to receive a greater compensation, which they did not receive because Amazon had stolen some of their profits. If they did not complain, Amazon would have continued taking from them thinking that it was okay.
In my opinion, the people complaining about this cartoon were probably Italians. The cartoon represents what was happening between two businesses but used a stereotype to do it. To show that Amazon wanted to force Hachette to do what they wanted, they used men who seem to portray a trio of members from the Mafia. The Mafia is a stereotype surrounding Italian Americans, a group of people who force others into doing what they want or else they will be punished. Because Amazon was forcing book companies and Hachette was not cooperating, they used this cartoon to portray the same message. The Italians probably complained about this cartoon because it is a stereotype and portrays Italian-Americans incorrectly.
ReplyDeleteI believe they were right to complain. Anyone being misjudged by a cartoon being published in something so public has the right to feel neglected. This type of picture depicts Italians wrongly and is rightly offensive to all Italians.
I believe the ones complaining were the book publishers who noticed their profit decreasing. This is only an assumption, but from the looks of the picture, it seems as though the three men are part of a mob or an Italian group. The men look upset with clenched fists. I think the cartoon presents an image of an Italian mafia getting Amazon to do what they want.
ReplyDeleteI think they had every right to complain. They were not happy. If they did not stand up for their selves it is possible Amazon would have neglected the fact that people are losing money and it is not fair.
1) The ones who may have complained about the cartoon were anyone who would have identified the cartoon as a representation of their background's mobsters, whether it be Italian Americans or even Russians. They may have complained because The New Yorker used a controversial approach to providing a cartoon for the Amazon-Hachette situation.
ReplyDelete2) In my opinion, they had every right to complain. The New Yorker could have easily taken various approaches to cartoons depicting the Amazon-Hachette situation. Instead, they chose to use cartoons that reinforce the stereotypes of mobsters, more than likely Italian American mobsters.
1. The people who complained about this cartoon have to be Italians and Italian Americans. They are depicted in the image of a criminal or a thug. As a part of the mafia. Clearly this image is culturally insensitive.
ReplyDelete2. Of course they have a right to complain. They aren't being shown as executives or lawyers from Amazon, they're mobsters. I'm surprised that the New Yorker would run a cartoon that perpetrates such an offensive stereotype.
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ReplyDelete1) I think that the Italian complained because it shows a mob boss and two of his crew member behind him. This was totally thoughtless of human feeling. It shows there body language as angry people and that they were there to collect a debt.
ReplyDelete2) They had every right to complain about the cartoon. why couldn't they dress them like they were an executive officer or a professional (suit and tie) but instead they showed them as Thug. This is plain stereotype, there is no doubt about it. I hope someone was punished for this.
1) I believe the people angered most by this cartoon were Italians because of the stereotype that Italians are affiliated with being mobsters and apart of the mafia. The signs that me infer this is the head of the mob being in the front with his hands being his back and suit on knowing he won't get his hand dirty. Then you have the two hefty guys in the back with their fists out ready to "take care of business" and by their attire and hairstyle one might interpret it to be a reference to the mafia.
ReplyDelete2) They do have a right to complain because the attire of the men in the cartoon could be linked to the stereotypes of Italian mens attire which would make them out to be some knuckleheads and instead of respected and dignified people.
1. I believe that the people who complained about this cartoon were ITAMs. In this picture they are portrayed as a mob, who have the full power to do whatever they want. Some of the signs portraying my view is the serious looks, sport outfits, and close fists as if they are ready to fight. Also looking at this cartoon, it shows that Hachette has the full power over Amazon and nobody can do nothing about it like the writers who are complaining about their own books. The reason why Italian Americans would complaint is because it represents that bad stereotypes about Italians which is not true to all.
ReplyDelete2. ITAMs had the full right to complaint because they are portrayed as bad and angry people. Many might find it offensive as well because people often see with their eyes instead of using their brains, and make wrong assumptions.
1) I believe the people who would complain about this image are Italian Americans. Amazon in this case were coercing Hachette to abide amazons needs. The cartoon shows Amazon as the stereotypical Italian Mafia, which indicates that the coercer has the same characteristics of Italians. The way one man has is hand in a fist, ready to fight, symbolizes that, that’s the way Italian Americans are.
ReplyDelete2) I think they have a right to be upset because they are being viewed in a bad light and shouldn’t be, especially when it has nothing to do with Italian Americans.
I agree with your thoughts on the image of American Italians. It is sad that we stereotype so many groups of people into terrible categories.
DeleteI would Imagine that the people who complained about this imagine are the Italians. Italians are often referred to as mafia's which fits the description of the three men standing. They are often referred to as criminals.The mafias who represent amazon are here to force Hatchett to cooperate.
ReplyDeleteI think the Italians have the right to be upset because they are being viewed negatively. They are being portrayed as being violent criminals and forceful. This cartoon is very offensive to the Italians.
1) In my opinion I believe the people who complained were the people who were selling their books to Amazon.com. I believe that they complained because Amazon pressured the sellers to lower their prices to increase Amazon’s sales which gave Amazon an increase in profit. However, the cartoon is is showing three men who are coming Amazon to visit Hatchet books and they seem to be from the Mafia. They used people from the Mafia to stereotype the American Italians as people were included in bad money.
ReplyDelete2) As many of us know small business owners are being taken over by larger and more popular businesses. In this case Amazon is taking over all book stores. I believe it was right for the sellers to complain because since Amazon is the top book selling website in the world the sellers do not have a choice but to sell with Amazon.com