Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Theory: Semiotics

Definition - The study of SIGNS (& the role of signs in social life)
                          > Examines how symbolic, written & technical signs construct meaning
                          > Saussure (a founder of semiotics) summarised it into this equation...
The sign = signifier + signified

A signifier = the form which the sign takes
The 'signified' = the concept it represents

Denotation & connotation...
Barthes analysed the denotative & connotative level of signs in a media text
He argues that the organisation of signs encodes particular messages and ideologies & that these ideologies can be revealed as constructed through textual analysis.

Research - http://www.slideshare.net/lizmedia/media-language-lesson-2013


Understanding Semiotics...

"Scary Mary" - a trailer made by a YouTube user where by the editing & sound of the original 'Mary Poppins' trailer have been changed to reconstruct the meaning & message.
The actual footage is the same, yet different signs & semiotics can completely change the concept.
Features which have been adapted to make the trailer a 'horror' genre film:

  • music - a scary/horror genre track used as background music - creates mystery
  • titles - black and white - plus ellipsis adds mystery
  • sound effects e.g. howling wind
  • fade transitions







Other examples...

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