A Multimodal Framework for Computer Mediated Learning: The Reshaping of Curriculum Knowledge and Learning

The Semiotic Resources of the Mode of Colour

The semiotic resources of colour are developed for sign making and have principles
of organisation. In this thesis, I therefore treat colour as a mode. Colour combines
with other modes but does not exist as a mode on its own but rather it relies on a
multimodal environment for its existence (Kress and van Leeuwen, 2002:351). Like
other modes it is meta-functional; it can denote ideational, interpersonal and textual
meaning. However the resources of colour are not (yet) specialised in the way that
some other modes, speech, for instance, are. The materiality of colour also offers a
way into the analysis of its semiotic resources. The resources of colour as mode, as
described by Kress and van Leeuwen (1996, 2002) that inform my analysis of the
computer applications presented in this thesis are outlined below.

The semiotic resources of colour include the ‘grey scale’, the scale from white
(maximum light) to black (maximum dark). The extremes of this continuum, light
and dark have come to have meaning and value in many cultures in different ways.
Colour can also be intense or saturated or soft and pastel, this continuum of
‘saturation’ realises emotion according to Kress and van Leeuwen (2002). They argue
that high saturation can be a Signifier for an emotional expression of energy and
emotion and low saturation a restraint of lack of energy or emotion. ‘Modulation’ is
another resource of colour, the scale that runs from richly textured tints and shades to
flat colour. The modulation of colours is associated with particular values and coding
orientations. For instance flat colour is associated with the ‘essential quality’ of an
object and ‘abstract truth’, whilst textured colour is associated with ‘specificity’ and
‘naturalistic, perceptual truth’ (Kress and van Leeuwen, 2002: 357). Colour
‘differentiation’ is a semiotic resource that runs from monochrome to the use of a
diverse range of colours. High colour differentiation has come to mean
‘adventurousness’ and low colour differentiation as meaning ‘timidity’ in the context
of home decor (Kress and van Leeuwen, 2002:357). Finally, ‘hue’, that is what
colour is used, is a semiotic resource associated with a Signifier potential continuum
from cold (blue) and warmth (red).

74

<<   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   >>

More intriguing information