The paper titled "Decoding Sense in Caricatures: A Study in Semio-stylistics" by Hasan Mohammed Saleh Jaashan, primarily focuses on exploring the semiotic analysis of caricatures using Peirce's trichotomy of signs: icon, index, and symbol. The research investigates how these semiotic elements contribute to the overall meaning conveyed by caricatures, and how stylistic features such as foregrounding and de-familiarization are utilized in these caricatures to highlight specific social, political, and cultural phenomena.
The purpose of the study is to analyze the semiotic structure of caricatures, particularly focusing on how the caricaturists employ iconic, indexical, and symbolic relationships to convey deeper meanings and societal critiques. The scope of the paper extends to a range of caricatures selected from different newspapers, allowing for a comprehensive examination of the visual and stylistic strategies used in this form of non-verbal communication.
The methodology of the research involves a qualitative analysis of selected caricatures, with a focus on identifying the semiotic elements and stylistic devices employed. The caricatures are analyzed within the framework of Peirce's semiotics, specifically looking at the relationship between the sign (caricature), the object (real-life counterpart), and the interpretant (the meaning or perception formed in the viewer's mind).
Key findings of the study reveal that caricatures effectively utilize the interplay between icon, index, and symbol to create a powerful commentary on various social, political, and cultural issues. The research highlights how caricatures are able to foreground certain elements through exaggeration and deviation from the norm, making them stand out and forcing the viewer to engage with the underlying message. The study also finds that de-familiarization is a crucial stylistic tool in caricatures, as it presents familiar ideas in an unfamiliar way, thus enhancing the viewer's perception and understanding of the subject matter.
The paper concludes by asserting the significance of semiotics in understanding the deeper meanings behind caricatures. It emphasizes that the relationship between signs and objects in caricatures generates different interpretants, which contribute to the formulation of specific perceptions about the depicted phenomena. The study underscores the importance of stylistic choices in caricature art, particularly the use of foregrounding and de-familiarization, in shaping the audience's interpretation and perception of the issues portrayed.