Visual
Semiotics:
an IATH
Seminar

The purpose of this seminar is to find out whether semiotic protocols can be used as a basis for the computerized processing of art images. To test this possibility the seminar will focus on the essay "Semiotics and Visual Syntax: An analysis of Pellan's Mascarade," by Fernande Saint-Martin (Études de l'Art, Université du Québec à Montréal). This article, originally published as "Sémiologie et Syntaxe Visuelle: Une Analyse de "Mascarade" de Pellan" (Protée, Autumn 1986, 27-40), has been translated into English by S. Lynne Mayers, with support from the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities (IATH).

The face-to-face seminar will include various persons from University of Virginia. IATH will also sponsor an email discussion of the issues. This discussion is open to anyone who wishes to participate.

If a translation of the semiotic structure can be made into a computerized environment, we expect the translation will be made according to the rules of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).

Access to the essay and related images is restricted to members of the University of Virginia community and invited guests of the seminar. Restrictions will be removed when we have permission to do so. If you have a research interest in visual semiotics, SGML markup of image data, or related matters, please contact the seminar's organizer, Jerome McGann, and ask to be added to the email discussion list. The proceedings of this discussion are archived and publicly accessible.

Seminar Materials

• Fernande Saint-Martin, "Semiotics and Visual Syntax" (access restricted: UVa and invited guests)
• Susan Hockey, "Knowledge Representation" (from the Getty Art History Information Program, Research Agenda for Cultural Heritage on Information Networks
• Jerome McGann, "The Rossetti Archive and Image-Based Electronic Editing"

• Data Dictionary from the Museum Educational Site-Licensing Project
• ICONCLASS: An iconographic classification system
• David Bearman and John Perkins, "Standards Framework for the Computer Interchange of Museum Information"
• Joseph Busch, "SGML for Cultural Heritage Information"
• Richard Light, "Getting a handle on exhibition catalogues: the Project CHIO DTD"
• Electronically Altered Images:
  • Mascarade (with embossed highlights)
  • Mascarade (edges highlighted)
  • Rossetti's The Blessed Damozel (with embossed highlights)
  • Rossetti's The Blessed Damozel (with color segmentation)

Suggest an addition to the list of Seminar Materials

Send mail to the Visual Semiotics Discussion List

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