Semiotics #1: Charging Bull

Signifier:

• Huge Bronze Bull Statue
• Fierce Facial Expression
• Hunched Stance
• Muscular Body
• Whipped Tail
• Large Horns
• City Setting

Signified:

• Power
• Aggression
• Stubbornness
• Strength
• Movement
• Violence
• Competitive
• Fearsome

What supports your analysis?

A bull by nature is an intimidating creature, as any common American can envision the violent motions of an upset bull at a rodeo or elsewhere. For the enormous size and brute strength of the beast, everyone knows it is foolish to stand in its way. So while the statue itself may be simply a piece of bronze, the way it’s shaped expresses the elements of a living raging bull that most people are familiar with seeing- the aggressive look on its face, the sheer strength of its body, the way its tail curls as it moves, the hunched stance that says it will stand its ground. Add to that its location in the city, and it can serve as a symbol for the citizens of the attributes needed to thrive like a bull.