Page 98 - Žagar, Igor Ž. 2021. Four Critical Essays on Argumentation. Ljubljana: Pedagoški inštitut.
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four critical essays on argumentation
And this is his analysis (Ibid.: 3-4):
While the kneeling posture may have an intrinsic, ethological ba-
sis for interpretation, this particular token of the behaviour has
had a deeply enriched meaning for many who have seen it, because
it was performed by this particular man, at this time and place.
The man is Willy Brandt, chancellor of West Germany. Once you
know this, the act already begins to take on enriched meaning. It is
not just a man kneeling, but a man whose actions will be taken to
stand for those of a nation’s people. It is 7 December 1970, a state
visit to Warsaw, Poland. These new layers of information should
yet further enrich your interpretation. To add another layer: the
occasion is a commemoration of Jewish victims of the Warsaw
Ghetto uprising of 1943. [...] The body posture [...] is a composite
sign in so far as its meaning is partly a function of its co-occurrence
with other signs: in particular, the role being played by its produc-
er, given the circumstances of its time and place of production.
The behaviour derives its meaning as much from its position on
these coordinates as from its intrinsic significance.
In place of conclusion
We are dealing with several layers of meaning here, resulting in complex
amalgam of signs as a process and product of a sequence of meaning-mak-
ing moves. First, there is a kneeling posture as such, with its prototypical
meaning. Then there is the presence of Willy Brandt, at that time the chan-
cellor of Germany, with a variety of different meanings being attached to
him or his function. The chancellor of Germany taking this kneeling po-
sition creates the third (amalgam) layer of meaning. The fourth layer of
meaning is provided by the information that this act of kneeling was part
of Brandt’s state visit to Warsaw, and the fifth layer is provided by the in-
formation that Brandt’s kneeling act was part of the commemoration of
Jewish victims of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Speaking of the photo as such, these five layers of meaning form an
amalgam of signs. But even more layers of meaning may be added, depend-
ing on the background knowledge of the observer and interpreter, as well
as the context in which the photo is interpreted.
In view of all that has been said, let us return to the fruit found in
Detroit River. If after checking and re-checking different photos, different
98
And this is his analysis (Ibid.: 3-4):
While the kneeling posture may have an intrinsic, ethological ba-
sis for interpretation, this particular token of the behaviour has
had a deeply enriched meaning for many who have seen it, because
it was performed by this particular man, at this time and place.
The man is Willy Brandt, chancellor of West Germany. Once you
know this, the act already begins to take on enriched meaning. It is
not just a man kneeling, but a man whose actions will be taken to
stand for those of a nation’s people. It is 7 December 1970, a state
visit to Warsaw, Poland. These new layers of information should
yet further enrich your interpretation. To add another layer: the
occasion is a commemoration of Jewish victims of the Warsaw
Ghetto uprising of 1943. [...] The body posture [...] is a composite
sign in so far as its meaning is partly a function of its co-occurrence
with other signs: in particular, the role being played by its produc-
er, given the circumstances of its time and place of production.
The behaviour derives its meaning as much from its position on
these coordinates as from its intrinsic significance.
In place of conclusion
We are dealing with several layers of meaning here, resulting in complex
amalgam of signs as a process and product of a sequence of meaning-mak-
ing moves. First, there is a kneeling posture as such, with its prototypical
meaning. Then there is the presence of Willy Brandt, at that time the chan-
cellor of Germany, with a variety of different meanings being attached to
him or his function. The chancellor of Germany taking this kneeling po-
sition creates the third (amalgam) layer of meaning. The fourth layer of
meaning is provided by the information that this act of kneeling was part
of Brandt’s state visit to Warsaw, and the fifth layer is provided by the in-
formation that Brandt’s kneeling act was part of the commemoration of
Jewish victims of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Speaking of the photo as such, these five layers of meaning form an
amalgam of signs. But even more layers of meaning may be added, depend-
ing on the background knowledge of the observer and interpreter, as well
as the context in which the photo is interpreted.
In view of all that has been said, let us return to the fruit found in
Detroit River. If after checking and re-checking different photos, different
98
