What is Semiotics?

I've had feedback from my tutor and I need to show you more of my background reading and research. I'm not sure how to display this so please bear with me while I experiment.
I do find that a simple search on Google can send me all over the place.

Can I offer you a simple URL of some of my findings? If I can please try;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xMQY8jGuKY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5FZRa7h99A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEgxTKUP_WI
Which I looked at in response to the references to Semiotics in Assignment 1

Random quote when I was researching my postcards  for Assignment 1;
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming….. WOO HOO…. What a RIDE!”

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wOgIkxAfJsk#!  A short animation from a suggestion on the OCA student website which is brilliant.

Belgian graphic design studio, loved this
http://www.coming-soon.be/portfolio

Researched Neville Brody at the suggestion of my tutor. Interestingly I watched his redesign of The Times newspaper as a reader and I agree he improved it subtly whilst retaining it's character
http://testpressing.org/2013/05/the-face-neville-brody-lesson-in-typography/

Also looked at the winners of the DandDA book design competition who made me feel very small with their great ideas http://www.dandad.org/awards/student/2010/categories/9/book-design

and watched a film on Helvetica which gave a background to the development of the typeface and opposing views on its use and relevance http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/interactive/2013/apr/16/watch-helvetica-on-demand