Semiotics: Blog Tasks

 Semiotics: blog tasks

English by Tarun Thind analysis

The audience is made to think negatively of the two characters at the beginning of the film. The two young males are portrayed as menacing individuals that cause a commotion. This is presented through the way they act and also their costume. Tracksuits, hoodies, and hats usually have negative connotations in urban movies when they are worn by young men that come from an urban background. 

The end of the film emphasises de Saussure’s belief that signs are polysemic. The two character's lack of understanding and communication skills toward people that approach them is initially interpreted as them being defiant and ill-mannered, it is then revealed that this is because they are two deaf individuals that communicate through sign language. 

Media Magazine theory drop: Semiotics 

Ferdinand de Saussure suggests that the two parts that make up a sign are the signifier and the signified. 

Polysemy is a word, phrase, or thing that has multiple meanings. 

Barthes states that signs can become naturalised. This can happen when certain meanings are introduced or created in a society and then over time they become naturalised. 

Barthes' 5 narrative codes:

• Enigma Code
• Cultural Code 
• Symbolic Code
• Action Code
• Referential code

The writer suggests that Russian Doll (Netflix) uses symbolic codes, this is shown through the title of the movie as it helps the audience identify certain parts of the narrative. This movie also uses enigma codes, this is used during the scene when the camera pans past and lingers on a close up of a bowl of fruit that is entirely rotten.

Icons, indexes and symbols

Icons and indexes help communicate meanings to an audience. Along with this, it speeds up the time it takes to explain something to viewers. 

Global brands would avoid using symbols in their advertising and marketing. Symbols are things that are taught and differ depending on your culture and where you are from. If you use symbols from one culture, audiences from other cultures and societies will find it hard to understand the information presented to them. 

Bloomingdale's attempt to be quirky and unorthodox resulted in audiences being largely offended and disgusted at Bloomingdale's choice to release this advert. The producer of this advert used symbol (text in the centre) and communicated the wrong meaning to audiences. Although it might have not been Bloomingdale's intention, this advert is promoting spiking your female friends drink when she is not aware, this is promoting 'date raping'.

This advert successfully uses icon, indexes and symbols to create a positive message that is easily understood around the world. This advert uses icons (men) to convey who this advert is directed towards, they are all seen wearing boxers or underwear so it is clear to the audience what they are advertising. All of the men have different body types which creates a positive message to the audience that you do not have to fit specific body criteria to be able to be accepted.