What Role Does Semiotics Play in Computational Art?

Semiotics provides a vital framework for interrogating the assumptions embedded in computational systems. Meaning is never neutral; it is shaped by relationships, contexts, and interpretations. Donna Haraway’s question - What kind of differences do we want to make? - is central to this reflection.

Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory reframes our understanding of technology, emphasising the relational nature of agency. Computational systems, like language, are both tools and participants in meaning-making. Reflecting on this, I ask: How can semiotics help us reveal the narratives embedded in these systems? How can we, as artists, use this understanding to challenge biases and create work that fosters new ways of seeing and understanding?

Semiotics reminds us that every decision - whether in coding, design, or storytelling - is an act of interpretation. This perspective pushes us to think critically about how we engage with computational tools and to consider the broader implications of the narratives we construct through our work.