Course Description

Instructor: Robert Drake

With election season upon us, how can we dissect the messages politicians are sending? How do they encourage their supporters to be really amped up to vote? How do their commercials and tactics dissuade others from voting? It’s the sign of the times and there’s a name for it! Semiotics! In this seven week course, we’ll look at the basics of Semiotics and then examine how political operatives, issue oriented advocates, and candidates use coded language, symbols, and icons to not only send direct messages, but coded messages in plain sight. Learn to read the signs to know more of who you’re really going to get! Robert will draw on his experience from working as a staffer on more than a dozen political campaigns, which included being a member of Governor Miller’s transition team.

WARNING: There will be frank political discussions in this class. There will likely be offensive material and view points presented with which you disagree!

Course fee: $65 member/$85 non-member.