Akdeniz Sanat

Öz

Urban semiotics is the study of the meanings produced by signs, symbols, and their associations in cities. Urban semiotics have been tried to be put into a conceptual framework based on Kevin Lynch’s urban images. Structural signs of the works were examined by using Saussure’s linguistic semiotic classification and Lynch’s urban image components as analysis method. 6 works were selected by taking expert opinion. These are early Renaissance, Modernism, Postmodernism and contemporary productions selected from different cities. The purpose of these analyses is to rethink the ideological structure of the society, social transformation, changing aesthetic values, the view of the artists towards the city through works of art, using the semiotic method. In the findings, it is seen that the ideal city ideology was conveyed through a secular, just, commercially developed, rich, civilized, and a harmonious city in the early Renaissance period. In modernism, on the other hand, industry and technology are exalted, and aesthetic values ​​change. In the postmodern period, it is reflected that alienation, deformation, and uncanny environments occur in cities as a result of the pressure of wars and commercial interests on cities. In contemporary productions, it is seen that the modern urban ideology gives up on nature, and surrenders to rent and capital, through the example of the New York city. Chicago urban ideology projects images of civilized, orderly, and systematic. Artists’ productions either reflect images as they are or question their reality and permanence. The city of London, on the other hand, gives the image of a modern and civilized city with its traditional structure, historical past, modern buildings, and green spaces. On the other hand, the kamikaze pigeon placed in the middle of the city questions the reliability of all cities, including this city. These readings are important in terms of looking at urban semiotics again, analysing the ideological structure and meaning through cities, and being an examination on which objects and subjects can have more meaning in cities.