Zero as a Semiotic When we look at the image (semiotic) of zero there is much that is going on unconsciously. The idea of zero in risk and safety may have originally started as some naïve quest for no injuries but it has evolved to become the iconic anchor for a religious movement. The Spirit of … [Read more...] about Zero as a Semiotic
Semiotics
What Can Marx Say to Safety?
What Can Marx Say to Safety? It’s important to understand that the Social Psychology of Risk (SPoR) emerges from traditions in Marxism, Post-Structuralism, Semiotics and Deconstruction. This is represented graphically (semiotically) as follows: Marxist and Post-Marxist theory is most observable … [Read more...] about What Can Marx Say to Safety?
Standing on the Myths of Safety
Standing on the Myths of Safety Most people confuse the definition of myth with fable, when this is not the case. When I use the word ‘myth’ in the tradition of Social Psychology its meaning is synonymous with symbolic reality. In Social Psychology a myth and symbol are the flip side of the same … [Read more...] about Standing on the Myths of Safety
Oh no! Safety has been Here!
Oh no! Safety has been Here! There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when you are inadvertently assaulted by the crusade of Safety. Just when you thought you were free to learn, discover, play and relax, you get confronted yet again by the Safety monster. It seems Safety lurks in every … [Read more...] about Oh no! Safety has been Here!
The Poetics of Resistance and Risk
The Poetics of Resistance and Risk When one is caught in a regime of dictatorial power, where zero is the ideology, much is sustained by the management of Poetics and Semiotics. This is why resistances like the works of Banksy and other graffiti artists are so effective. If you want to pull apart … [Read more...] about The Poetics of Resistance and Risk
The Visionary Imagination and Marion Mahoney Griffin
The Visionary Imagination and Marion Mahoney Griffin In Chapter 3 of book 9 in the series on risk (Envisioning Risk, Seeing, Vision and Meaning in Risk) I present a review of select visionaries, people who envision, know all about risk. The last thing visionaries want is stasis and zero. One such … [Read more...] about The Visionary Imagination and Marion Mahoney Griffin
Sin-Eaters for Safety
Sin-Eaters for Safety Cemeteries are a treasure trove in semiotics. They not only convey history but also much about what humans think about life and death. In our Introduction to Semiotics (https://cllr.com.au/product/semoiotics-and-the-social-psychology-of-risk-unit-3/) and Advanced Semiotics … [Read more...] about Sin-Eaters for Safety
Tattoos, Taboos and The Risk of Permanence
Tattoos, Taboos and The Risk of Permanence I was brought up in a home where tattoos were associated with deviance, bodgies, widgies, bikers, sailors and sinfulness. Yet my own children have many tattoos, some the size of all their back. My youngest daughter has 13 tattoos! A study of the semiotics … [Read more...] about Tattoos, Taboos and The Risk of Permanence
Safety in Design as if Humans Matter
Safety in Design as if Humans Matter I always find it interesting when the discipline of objects attends to something. It’s how we get ‘human factors’ that is about systems, ‘resilience engineering’ that is not about human resilience and Behavior-Based Safety that is not about behaviours or safety … [Read more...] about Safety in Design as if Humans Matter
What is the Mind of Safety?
What is the Mind of Safety? What limits Safety in innovation, creativity, ideas and vision are the upshifting ideologies of behaviourism/positivism. Whatever slogans one is attracted to, checklists one completes, or how much one repeats the word ‘differently’, how many podcasts one listens to or … [Read more...] about What is the Mind of Safety?