Semiotics Assignment (Numero Uno)

What is the signifier?

The signifier is a large bronze sculpture of a bull. It's located in Bowling Green Park by Wall Street. It's HUGE (7,100 lbs) and a very popular tourist attraction. It has a fierce expression on its face and it's low to the ground with one hoof in the air, looking as if it's ready to charge. It's built into a stone surface.

What does it signify?

There's a popular idiom of "taking the bull by the horns." It means to forcefully attack a problem or difficult situation. I think of this when I look at the bull on Wall Street. It obviously signifies aggression. Being on Wall Street, I think it specifically signifies financial aggression. When we're faced with a difficult situation, Americans "take the bull by the horns" and seize opportunities for business and financial gain.

It also signifies strength and power, being 7100 lbs and sculpted out of bronze. I think the fact that it's fixed into the ground shows that it signifies resilience, determination and a little bit of stubbornness (Very American traits, in my opinion). When hard economic times strike, we endure it.

Finally, the fact that the animal is a bull is interesting to me and I think that in itself signifies unpredictability. You never really know when a bull is about to charge. The sculpture almost looks like it's in motion. I think this all illustrates the fact that the stock market is always moving and fluid; and it can be very unpredictable.

What specifically supports my analysis?

I did some background research on the Charging Bull statue and discovered that it was created by Arturo di Modica after the Wall Street crash in 1986. It was finished in 1989 and he delivered it to Wall Street illegally...but the bull was a big hit and the city decided to give it a permanent home in Bowling Green. This was cool to me. I had always assumed that the city commissioned the statue. But, it was the idea and work of a regular person who wanted to show how strong America is as a nation. Obviously, that supports my theory that it signifies strength, power, and aggression.

I also find it interesting that people touch it for good luck. There are certain parts (like its head, horns, and ahem, man-parts) that are burnished from stockbrokers rubbing them each day on their way to work.  I think that supports my theory of the bull signifying the unpredictability of the economy and the stock market. I think the bull reminds people of that and it also gives them hope.