Help translate to English: 从一堆冗余的符号中脱身

[HK Stars 0]

Please help me understand the meaning of 从一堆冗余的符号中脱身.  I tried to used online translator app, and the phrase is translated as "getting away from a bunch of redundant symbols", which makes no sense to me. 

The rest of the sentence is as follows: 正在摆脱柔软的线条，从一堆冗余的符号中脱身，越发硬朗

Thanks for your help.

[Jim 807]

Is it art criticism? I can imagine it as something along the lines of "It frees itself from soft lines and emerges from under a heap of redundant symbols as something more robust." That's envisaging it describing an image or whatever that achieves its impact eschewing more conventional techniques. Adjust to context.

[roddy 5,437]

Actor criticism, it looks like.

Quote

过滤掉以往的稚嫩气质，成熟魅力已经在慢慢成型，那个我们熟悉的彭冠英，正在摆脱柔软的线条，从一堆冗余的符号中脱身，越发硬朗，继续锤炼出自己的绅士格调。

 

[Jim 807]

Ah, hence the OP's username, perhaps.

[HK Stars 0]

Yes, that was the original text describing an actor's style. However, I was trying to understand what 从一堆冗余的符号中脱身 meant. I thought it had something to do with removing redundant data for technology-related terms. Therefore, in the context of a celebrity star style, I was confused. What does "redundant symbols" mean when referring to a person's style? 

[Jim 807]

10 minutes ago, HK Stars said:

What does "redundant symbols" mean when referring to a person's style? 

Tired old cultural motifs, stereotypical markers of personality traits or status, that sort of thing. I'm sure you can recall an acting performance that has relied on familiar symbols to achieve its representation of a character.

[roddy 5,437]

On a quick search, he's maybe known for historical dramas and so would usually be seen in historical garb?