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Semiotics unleashed my perception and now I think in symbols. I analyzed a bunch of them and then came up with an abstract synthesis of repeating patterns across all the symbols I encountered (like Jung's archetypes mixed with design principles). I followed the weight and the pull of the symbols that aligned with my own truth.
Now that I've processed them, I'm trying to express them in my own way. I'm essentially saying: "here, do what the universe does."
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Symbols are the DNA of meaning—the building blocks through which we encode, transmit, and interpret truth. They are not confined to culture; they underpin all forms of understanding, from the way nature organizes itself to how humans create and communicate. Whether in the form of letters, shapes, or abstract concepts, symbols are the universal interface for giving and finding meaning in a complex world.
Carl Jung described symbols as expressions of something beyond direct understanding—manifestations of the collective unconscious, where archetypes and universal truths dwell. Symbols transcend language and culture, distilling vast, abstract concepts into forms we can grasp intuitively. They bridge the gap between what we can consciously know and deeper, often unconscious truths.
Semiotics: The Study of Meaning:
Semiotics, the study of signs and symbols, reveals how meaning is constructed. A sign points to something specific (e.g., a stop sign), while a symbol represents something larger and often abstract (e.g., a dove for peace).
Letters as Symbols:
The alphabet itself is a symbolic system. Each letter is a visual representation of sound, meaning, and connection, forming the foundation of written language. Words, in turn, become conceptual symbols, combining letters to convey layered meanings.
Examples of Foundational Symbols:
Symbols encode truth in ways that transcend logic, speaking directly to intuition and emotion. They are compact, universal carriers of meaning, mirroring the structure of DNA: a simple framework that produces infinite complexity.
Encoding and Decoding Meaning:
Self-Similarity Across Scales:
Symbols often exhibit fractal-like properties: the same patterns recur at different levels of understanding. A wave, for instance, symbolizes rhythm and flow, whether in sound, water, or human emotion.
Throughout history, symbols have shaped how we build culture and communicate. Picasso and Banksy demonstrate how symbols evolve in art to reflect and challenge societal norms, while logos and branding show their power in shaping identity.