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Ariel Chenac47386

ANT 305Written Exercise: Material Semiotics

A certain space that has some social implications would be a typical courtroom. At first glance, the layout of the room is

usually simple and (often) symmetrical, with the judge or magistrate at the center of one end of the room, the jury and

spectators at the other end, and the prosecution and defense on the left and right sides of the room. These positions would be

considered the "first meaning" of the place where trials occur.

But "second meanings" can be found as well, and the positions of the key players in this trial index certain social relationships

that exist within the courtroom. The judge or magistrate is behind a desk or bench of sort, facing the defendants and plaintiffs

who are presenting the case to them. Their physical person is also usually elevated so that he or she is looking down at the

others. This indicates the role of the judge as the primary audience hearing the case and also the role of the judge as the

individual presiding over the happenings of the court. The judge is the ultimate authority within the space.

The judge usually has a few select individuals sitting around them, also facing the plaintiff and the defense: court officers,

court clerks, and court reporters. They are facing the same way as they are also audiences hearing the case but their lowered

seats and positions to the side indicate that they have little authority and their main purpose is to document the happenings.

The plaintiff and the defendant each have a table where they are sitting at with their attorney or counsel. The tables are clearly

separated and are literally on one side or the other, indicating their positions as opponents. They are not facing each other,however, they are facing the judge and are each appealing to him or her. The conflict is not directly towards each other. They

are also equal distance from the judge and typically symmetrically place in the room. Neither is favored above the other or at

an advantage beforehand and reason is the ultimate deciding factor in who wins the case.

The witness stand is also in an interesting position, as it is rather isolated. This may have the implication that the witness is to

be thoroughly unbiased and uninfluenced by either side or outside factors.

Obviously, not all courtrooms have the same layout, yet there are usually certain aspects that are always present. Those aspects

and positions of this physical space is very indicative of the social relationships present between individuals when they are in

this physical space.