Esthesic and poietic
Encyclopedia
Esthesic and poietic are terms used in semiotics
, the study of signs
, to describe perceptive and productive levels, processes, and analyses of symbol
ic forms.
Like 'emic' and 'etic'
, both words appear to be derived from a suffix, -poietic (from "creative") meaning productive or formative and -esthesic (from αἴσθησις "sense") being receptive or perceptive, in relation to the neutral level
. The neutral level is the "trace" left behind, the physical or material creation of esthesic and poietic processes.
Thus, "a symbolic form... is not some 'intermediary' in a process of 'communication' that transmits the meaning intended by the author to the audience; it is instead the result of a complex process of creation (the poietic process) that has to do with the form as well as the content of the work; it is also the point of departure for a complex process of reception (the esthesic process) that reconstructs a 'message.'" (Nattiez 1990, p.17)
Nattiez's diagram, following Jean Molino
:
Semiotics
Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of signs and sign processes , indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication...
, the study of signs
Sign (semiotics)
A sign is understood as a discrete unit of meaning in semiotics. It is defined as "something that stands for something, to someone in some capacity" It includes words, images, gestures, scents, tastes, textures, sounds – essentially all of the ways in which information can be...
, to describe perceptive and productive levels, processes, and analyses of symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ic forms.
Like 'emic' and 'etic'
Emic and etic
Emic and etic are terms used by anthropologists and by others in the social and behavioral sciences to refer to two kinds of data concerning human behavior...
, both words appear to be derived from a suffix, -poietic (from "creative") meaning productive or formative and -esthesic (from αἴσθησις "sense") being receptive or perceptive, in relation to the neutral level
Neutral level
In a semiotics the neutral level of a sign is the "trace" left behind, the physical or material creation or remains of esthesic and poietic processes, levels, and analyses of symbolic forms...
. The neutral level is the "trace" left behind, the physical or material creation of esthesic and poietic processes.
Thus, "a symbolic form... is not some 'intermediary' in a process of 'communication' that transmits the meaning intended by the author to the audience; it is instead the result of a complex process of creation (the poietic process) that has to do with the form as well as the content of the work; it is also the point of departure for a complex process of reception (the esthesic process) that reconstructs a 'message.'" (Nattiez 1990, p.17)
Nattiez's diagram, following Jean Molino
Jean Molino
Jean Molino is professeur ordinaire at the University of Lausanne and a semiologist. His students include Jean-Jacques Nattiez.-Bibliography:*Musical Fact and the Semiology of Music, trans. J. A. Underwood, Music Analysis 9/2 : 113-156....
:
| Poietic Process | Esthesic Process | |||
| "Producer" | → | Trace | ← | Receiver |
Source
- Nattiez, Jean-Jacques (1990). Music and Discourse: Toward a Semiology of Music (Musicologie générale et sémiologue, 1987). Translated by Carolyn Abbate (1990). ISBN 0-691-02714-5.