Applied Semiotics: Enhancing Life Through Enriching Meaning by David Berger - Summary and Highlights
Channel: Meaning Is Alive
Date: 14/03/2020

Often when we face situations of conflict, we focus on the disagreement and get set in our ways. But when we go about it without considering what it means to the other person, are we truly listening? We learn here that we can come up with creative resolutions when we intentionally change our frame of thinking to one that seeks to listen and understand before we act--a semiotic approach.



In this workshop, which took place at the Koala Tea Party event on March 30th, 2019, we explore ways in which we can apply semiotic thinking to our daily lives. I facilitated an interactive discussion where we focus on understanding the meanings in a situation, both implicit and explicit, following this loose process:


1. Signs - What is the literal meaning? What is the meaning intended by the speaker?
2. Empathy - What does it mean to the other? How is the meaning interpreted by the other?
3. Impact - What does it mean in the bigger picture? What is the effect? Who does it affect?
4. Collaboration - What meaning are we creating together? How do we build this world together?


This was a very experimental approach and it ended up being quite effective. Those attending the workshop said that it influenced them to think differently about how they approach situations of conflict, and inspired them to think of themselves differently.


One of the most powerful things we can do as humans is to consider the meanings we had previously left unexamined. This activity is semiotics. When we tap into this avenue of thought, we can enrich the ways in which we live and relate to each other. I believe this is where we achieve our highest potential as human beings.


This video highlights some of the best moments of the workshop. It does not contain the entirety.


Music used is Bach's Brandenburg Concertos as performed by Musica Florea.

I do not own this music. 

I do not profit from this video. It is solely published so that people may access the information from the workshop I conducted.


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