A Peircean Lens on Cinematic Special Effects

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to reconsider how Peirce’s conceptions of iconicity and especially indexicality can help us logically account for some of the issues that pertain to representation in the cinema. To this end, the study centers on the practice of special effects as a way to reground the entire area of thinking about indexicality within the study of moving images. The author wishes to show how Peirce’s concepts not only remains viable for thinking about cinema but also offer a powerful tool for critically analyzing images.

Keywords: indexicality, iconicity, Peirce, special effects, cinema