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.