Semiotic Analysis of the Soviet Infographics (1920-30s)

The Master Thises is dedicated to the Semiotic Analysis of Visualization of data in 1920-1930. The selected topic is little explored due to the lack of sufficient attention to the study of the history of data's visualization in this period. Within the framework of the research a "critical approach" was used in order to interpret the found visualized sources using the methodology of Gillian Rose, through which the printed publications published in the first half of the 20th century were analyzed. During the research, the characteristic features of this method of information visualization were revealed. First, infographics is a simple and convenient way to distribute statistical data to a wide range of people. Secondly, since the 1920s, infographic has begun to be seemed as an ideological resource and is used as a propaganda "weapon". Thirdly, such a possibility is achieved through the intelligent use of graphics resources. During this period infographics become not only a means of displaying data, but also an instrument for the formation of meanings.