The social semiotics of diagrams Theo van Leeuwen Seminar series, August-November 2012 Transient Building 202, University

of Sydney, Fridays 2-4pm The seminar will introduce the key principles of a social semiotic approach to analysing multimodal discourse and, more specifically, explore how conceptual structures can be realized by visual composition. Lecture-discussions will introduce concepts and methods, and alternate with presentations in which students apply these concepts and methods to examples, comparing diagrammatic and nondiagrammatic representations of the same or similar information, and critically evaluating the differences between the two forms of representation. The format of these presentations will be explained and exemplified in the first lecture. Following presentation, students will submit their work in written form. Sessions 1. 3 August: Introducing social semiotics

The principal elements of social semiotics are introduced; the aim and structure of the seminar series is explained; and the presentations are explained and organized

2. 10 August: 3. 17 August:

Lists and maps Student presentations

4. 24 August: 5. 31 August:

Flowcharts and visual instructions Student presentations

6. 7 September: Taxonomies and networks

NB - No class on 14 September 7. 21 September: Student presentations 8. 5 October: 9. 12 October: Tables and the new writing Student presentations

10. 19 October: 11. 26 October: 12. 2 November:

Animated diagrams Guest lecture Student presentations

Key readings Kress, G. and Van Leeuwen, T. (2006) Reading Images The Grammar of Visual Design. 2nd Edition. London: Routledge, chapters 2,3,5,6,7 Martinec, R. and Van Leeuwen, T (2009) The Language of New Media Design: Theory and Practice. London: Routledge, ch 2 Van Leeuwen, T. (2005) Introducing Social Semiotics. London: Routledge. Ch 1,3 Van Leeuwen, T. and Djonov, E. Kinetic Typography: An Exploration (copies will be distributed)