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giraffe
Semiotics – The Study of Signs
A key part of Media Studies it the
understanding of signs and images, and the
type of meanings they may create.
To begin: What is a sign?
Ferdinand de Saussure - A Swiss Linguist
A sign has two parts the signifier (denotation - what we see)and the signified (connotation - what is suggested).
SIGNIFIER
SIGNIFIED
Tree
giraffe
When signs
are
incongruous
the audience
can be
confused or
find it comical.
DEFINITION
Incongruous – Out of place
You’re the boss…
What would be the expected or acceptable courses of action/behaviour for a boss in this situation?
Role play! … Imagine that you’re the boss in an office and a group of your employees come to complain to you that they have not been paid correctly this month. What could you say or do to placate them?
You’re the boss…
• Set up meeting• Promise to examine
contracts• Refer to your line
manager• Contact pay-roll dept.• Write to employee• Soothe them & assure
them that it won’t happen again..
You’re the boss…
JuggleProduce animals from hats or other placesDo a card tricksPerform other magic tricksPut on a high wire balancing performanceHypnotise themDo some escapologyOffer to do a tarot card reading for them..
• Set up meeting• Promise to examine
contracts• Refer to your line
manager• Contact pay-roll dept.• Write to employee• Soothe them & assure
them that it won’t happen again..
Semiotics – The Study of Signs
1. Iconic signs which actually look like what they represent. E.g. a photograph
2. Indexical signs which have a connection to what they represent and are suggestive rather than directly resembling what they represent.
E.g. smoke is an index of a fire.
3. Symbolic/arbitrary signs which have a meaning that must be culturally learned because they don’t actually look like what they represent.
E.g. a red light means stop.
• What are the denotations?
• What are the connotations?
• Is the sign iconic, indexical or symbolic/arbitrary?
1. Iconic signs which actually look like what they represent. E.g. a photograph
2. Indexical signs which have a connection to what they represent and are suggestive rather than directly resembling what they represent.
E.g. smoke is an index of a fire.
3. Symbolic/arbitrary signs which have a meaning that must be culturally learned because they don’t actually look like what they represent.
E.g. a red light means stop.
• What are the denotations?
• What are the connotations?
• Is the sign iconic, indexical or symbolic/arbitrary?
1. Iconic signs which actually look like what they represent. E.g. a photograph
2. Indexical signs which have a connection to what they represent and are suggestive rather than directly resembling what they represent.
E.g. smoke is an index of a fire.
3. Symbolic/arbitrary signs which have a meaning that must be culturally learned because they don’t actually look like what they represent.
E.g. a red light means stop.
Listen to this piece of music
• What do you think this song is about?• What images does it create in your mind?• How?• Why?
Bad Manners
1970s & 80s 2-tone Ska band.9 members in the band fronted by lead singer Buster Bloodvessel.Hits include:
• Lip Up Fatty• Skinhead Love Affair• Knees Up Mother
Brown
The song is about…
• Carlsberg Lager.• A specific brand called
Special Brew.• 9% ABV Lager.
1. What are the producers of Red Riding Hood trying to say?
Textual Analysis:A study of the text
2. How are they trying to say it?
3. How is the actress presented to the audience?
4. What signs/messages do the audience interpret?
Annotate (make notes on) the poster cover of all the signs that as Media students we could analyse
Now turn your annotations into a SHORT paragraph of writing.Try numbering your annotations so your paragraph flows.
What are the denotations?
What are the connotations?
Are the signs iconic, indexical or symbolic/arbitrary?
Task:Write a semiotic analysis of the Black
Swan or Inception poster.
Your aim is to discuss the signs
evident on the cover and
deconstruct their potential
meanings.
Key Words:Denotation
Connotation
Sign
Signifier
Signified
Ideology
Iconic, indexical, symbolic/arbitrary sign.Avoid “shows”…
SignifiesRepresents
SuggestsMeansSignals
EmbodiesConnotes
CarriesConveys
DemonstratesIllustrates
Title: A semiotic analysis
of the Black
Swan/Inception Poster.