SACRED SEMIOTICS AND URBAN WAYFINDING: THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIMENSIONS OF REGIONAL VISUAL SYMBOLS IN SUBWAY GUIDE SYSTEMS
Culture serves as the spiritual foundation of a nation, shaping collective identity, memory, and meaning. As modern cities evolve into complex urban environments, the interplay between cultural representation and spatial navigation becomes increasingly significant. Public wayfinding systems, particu...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
European journal for philosophy of religion
Year: 2025, Volume: 17, Issue: 2, Pages: 315-328 |
| Further subjects: | B
Regional Visual Symbols
B Regional Culture B Psychology B Subway Guidance System |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Culture serves as the spiritual foundation of a nation, shaping collective identity, memory, and meaning. As modern cities evolve into complex urban environments, the interplay between cultural representation and spatial navigation becomes increasingly significant. Public wayfinding systems, particularly subway guide-visual systems, serve not only as functional tools for spatial orientation but also as carriers of cultural symbolism, shaping human perception, experience, and interaction with the built environment. This study explores the deeper philosophical and religious dimensions of regional visual symbols in subway guidance systems, examining their role in reinforcing collective memory, sacred space, and cultural continuity. Drawing upon theories from environmental psychology, semiotics, and religious aesthetics, this research investigates how subway guide systems serve as conduits of regional identity, visual semiotics, and metaphysical interpretation. By conducting comparative case studies of the London Underground and Mexico City subway visual guidance systems, this study examines how urban wayfinding incorporates elements of religious symbolism, cultural heritage, and sacred narratives into public spaces. These systems, beyond their practical function, act as modern representations of pilgrimage routes, sacred geography, and collective memory, offering insights into how visual semiotics influence human cognition and spiritual orientation in urban life. This research argues that subway guide-visual systems are not merely technical tools but also vehicles of cultural and religious significance, shaping contemporary experiences of sacred and symbolic spaces. By integrating regional cultural symbols into public navigation infrastructure, cities can preserve and transmit cultural heritage while fostering a deeper connection between individuals and their spiritual and historical landscapes. The study provides a philosophical and theological perspective on the semiotics of urban space, offering insights into the role of visual guidance systems in the broader discourse of religious philosophy, cultural identity, and metaphysical representation. Future research should further explore how spatial design, symbolism, and sacred narratives intersect in the formation of modern urban experiences. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: European journal for philosophy of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.24204/ejpr.2025.4770 |
