Open Sign: Philosophy Forums

Open Sign

markbroadway
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Joined: Nov 29, 2007

Total Topics: 3
Total Posts: 7

Posted 04/28/08 - 06:55 PM: Subject: Open Sign	#1
My english professor said something today that I'd never heard before. This was a Frank Capra film studies class. We had just watched Frank Capra's Meet John Doe. In the movie "John Doe" becomes a symbol of "love your neighbor" for all of America's "John Doe's." My professor made the point that John Doe was "what postmodernist call an 'open sign.'" He described this 'open sign' concept in brief, but from what I gathered an open sign is a figure that can be manipulated by those who control the open sign to represent anything they choose. The open sign is a figure that people look to and trust and so the people will follow whatever ideals the open sign presents to them. I was wondering if anyone could tell me more or if anyone has heard this term before. Also, is it really postmodern?

Floyd
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Joined: Dec 16, 2003

Total Topics: 31
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Posted 04/28/08 - 10:57 PM:	#2
The term may have been coined by postmodernists; I don't know. But surely there were open signs before postmodernism.
Short and to the point. \| Online Philosophy Club \| Book & Reading Forums \| My Philosophy Articles "Only the descent into the hell of self-knowledge can pave the way to godliness." ~Immanuel Kant

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