Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.7, 2020

The Critical Dimension and Strength of Social Semiotic Approach: An Investigation Based on Historical Materialism

(Abstract)

Fang Jun

Through his profound analysis of social symbols such as commodities, currencies and capital, Marx found that the reversal and negation of social symbols are general and regular characteristics of social symbols, and are historical characteristics that social symbols obtain under certain social formation. According to Marx, they are rooted in the basic contradiction of human practice, i.e., the contradictory movement of objectification and non-objectification, defined by the dialectical nature of practice, that is, the relationship that takes negation as a medium, and is the concrete expression of negative dialectics in the sense of symbols. The Critical of social semiotic approach from the perspective of historical materialism is based on practice and reality and points at the future; it is both revolutionary and constructive. At present, the construction of social semiotic theory in a scientific way can not only promote the development of semiotics, but also be an important step in deepening historical materialism.