Signs and Symbols in Hamilton: An Iconology of Steeltown

This paper examines the images of Hamilton in their societal context by asking why these images take the forms they do. As cultural artifacts cities have symbolic value in addition to other functions they perform. It is useful to view this symbolic value of cities in terms of ideology, myth and metaphor in order to understand the meaning of place. Cities can thus be viewed in both objective and subjective terms. Iconology (the interpretation of symbols) and iconography (the description of symbols) are studied in the context Hamilton's image as ‘Steel City’. The analysis suggests that the city's image is partial and incomplete and yet, at the same time, it is firmly entrenched in the minds of both residents and non-residents alike. Four sets of factors are identified as determinants of Hamilton's image: national identity, economic life, political location and cultural logic. It is concluded that the political location and cultural logic dimensions provide the best understanding of Hamilton's image.