Importance of Semiotics
People often communicate using a lot of ways. Men communicate using verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. Well, there is actually another form of communication that is usually not recognized: communication through pictures, signs and symbols. A single picture can indeed say a thousand words. An image portraying something can also be interpreted by people in a lot of varying ways, depending on how one links something to another thing or even on his perceptions. People can always benefit from good and clear communication and there is no doubt that the deconstruction of signs and symbols have played a big role in ancient (e.g. Egyptian hieroglyphs, Sumerians, etc.) and even in current communication systems.
Wealth
Banks have always been associated with wealth and money, especially during the first few centuries of their existence. People went to banks either to deposit, withdraw, or borrow money. As a consequence, people, regardless of their financial and economic standing, perceived banks as sources of wealth. It can be easily seen in the picture how people’s perception of wealth evolves and develops alongside with architecture (Macesich, 2000, pp. 2). The two banks obviously belong to different eras of modernization and this is in fact, the hardest evidence that people’s perception of wealth changes over time.
Banking Transactions and Features
Based on the signs and symbols present in each picture, one can easily assert that Lloyds Bank performs fewer and perhaps simpler bank transactions compared to the Northern Rock. Such judgment may be attributed to the common perception that simple things are intended to do simple tasks while complex and more sophisticated ones are intended for equally complex and sophisticated tasks. In terms of architecture, one can easily lead himself to believe that bank transactions and features during the previous era are much more limited compared to modern banks and financial institutions today. Before, banks are only capable of processing transactions that involve direct transfers, account withdrawals & deposits, time deposits, etc. (Bolt et al., 2010, pp. 7-8). Now banks transactions were brought to a whole new level. The can now grant credit & debit cards and loans, process electronic and mobile transactions, and do all the basic things that a bank before can do (Lon & Cole, 1995, pp.1-3).
Economy
Another thing that can be easily seen from the picture is the present state of the economy where and when these two financial establishments were built. It’s pretty obvious that the Lloyds Bank in the picture belongs to a much older society compared to the society where the Northern Rock belongs, which is most likely the current society. Lloyds Bank’s double hung windows, and external brick walls finishing and Northern Rock’s glass doors and windows, and concrete finishing are some of the symbols that could support such judgment.
Another symbol that can be used here is the black and white color feature of Lloyd Bank’s picture. Meaning, it was taken at a time when cameras were not high-end enough to capture high-quality colored pictures. The Northern Rock picture on the other hand was blemish-free and fully colored. Meaning, it was taken at a time when cameras were already capable of capturing colored and high definition photos. The picture of Lloyds bank can also be considered as a sign that Wolverhampton’s economy during the time the picture was taken was not that flourishing compared to U.K.’s. The building should have been more vertically erect if it belonged to a more financially stable economy.
Conclusion
Works Cited
Bolt, W., Haan, L., Hoeberinchts, M., Oordt, M., & Swank, J., 2010. Bank Profitability During Recessions. DNB Working Paper, pp. 7-8.
Lon, M., & Cole, R., 1995. Consumer and Business Credit Management. Homewood: Irwin, pp. 1-3.
Macesich, G., 2000. Central Banking: The Early Years: Other Early Banks. Issues in Money and Banking. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, pp. 2-3.
