Tragicomic in graphic design: Semiotical analysis of images designed for earthquake disaster

The effects of art on human life form the foundation of art and design. Earthquakes profoundly impact human life negatively and painfully. It is expected that individuals and society will exhibit formal and emotional reactions to various phenomena in order to cope with a painful event. However, when a contrasting style is adopted in art, as in the principle of contrast, this reaction becomes tragicomic, a more striking means of communication. Tragicomic, in its terminology, refers to humorous phenomena arising from the sad. Creating positive, constructive, and impactful content in the face of natural events is crucial for social and cultural life. A major earthquake disaster occurred in our country on February 6, 2023. In this research, tragicomic visuals were created to raise awareness of the effects of this major earthquake. Numerous visuals were designed within this scope, and 12 were selected from among these visuals, consulting experts. Seven of the selected visuals were posters and five were cartoons. Semiotic analysis was conducted on these visuals using Roland Barthes's semiotic analysis method. The relationship between the sign, signifier, and signified was examined at the levels of denotation and connotation. Semiotic analysis revealed that the posters depicted tragicomic elements such as the need for home reinforcement, damage assessment of damaged homes, temporary housing issues, the proliferation of container cities while former living spaces shrink, people's need for housing, earthquake-resistant homes, and the persistence of post-earthquake psychological trauma despite prolonged recovery. Semiotic analysis also revealed that the designed cartoons depicted tragicomic elements such as transportation difficulties, housing built in remote areas, earthquake-damaged homes and the lack of responsibility from building owners, the humiliation of people in aid campaigns, people's attempts to resume their former lives due to the shock they experienced, and their failure to recognize the material and spiritual impact of the earthquake on their lives, as well as buildings that were unprepared for the threat of earthquakes. These works, blending tragic and comedic elements within the context of signs, demonstrate how the emotional dilemma created by disasters in individuals and society can be understood and addressed in artistic production through critical approaches.