Semiotics: blog tasks
There are three parts to this week's homework - make sure you complete everything:
Part 1: English by Tarun Thind analysis
Watch (or re-watch) the short film English by former Greenford Media student Tarun Thind and then answer the two questions below:
English from Tarun Thind writer | director on Vimeo.
1) What meanings are the audience encouraged to take about the two main characters from the opening of the film?
That people go about they day to day life differently
2) How does the end of the film emphasise de Saussure’s belief that signs are polysemic – open to interpretation or more than one meaning?
Part 2: Media Magazine theory drop - Semiotics
Greenford Media department has a subscription to Media Magazine - a brilliant magazine designed exclusively for A Level Media students and published four times a year. We strongly recommend you read it regularly and also set plenty of work for the course based on the articles inside. You can find our Media Magazine archive here and for this task need to go to MM68 (page 24) to read the introduction to Semiotics. Once you've read it, answer the following questions:
1) What did Ferdinand de Saussure suggest are the two parts that make up a sign?
The signifier and signified
2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?
When a word has multiple meanings or views.
3) What does Barthes mean when he suggests signs can become ‘naturalised’?
Ideas made through culture and people can be seen and viewed as common sense and knowledge.
4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?
Hermeneutic Code
1) What meanings are the audience encouraged to take about the two main characters from the opening of the film?
That people go about they day to day life differently
2) How does the end of the film emphasise de Saussure’s belief that signs are polysemic – open to interpretation or more than one meaning?
some people may think that they use sign language because they cannot speak or hear or talk however some people may think that they use sign language as a way of communicating in a way others don't know.
Part 2: Media Magazine theory drop - Semiotics
Greenford Media department has a subscription to Media Magazine - a brilliant magazine designed exclusively for A Level Media students and published four times a year. We strongly recommend you read it regularly and also set plenty of work for the course based on the articles inside. You can find our Media Magazine archive here and for this task need to go to MM68 (page 24) to read the introduction to Semiotics. Once you've read it, answer the following questions:
1) What did Ferdinand de Saussure suggest are the two parts that make up a sign?
The signifier and signified
2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?
When a word has multiple meanings or views.
3) What does Barthes mean when he suggests signs can become ‘naturalised’?
Ideas made through culture and people can be seen and viewed as common sense and knowledge.
4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?
Hermeneutic Code
Proairetic Code
Semantic Code
Symbolic Code
Cultural / Referential Code
5) How does the writer suggest Russian Doll (Netflix) uses narrative codes?
Part 3: Icons, indexes and symbols
1) Find two examples for each: icon, index and symbol. Provide images or links.
Icon:
Index:
5) How does the writer suggest Russian Doll (Netflix) uses narrative codes?
They use narrative codes, why they are trapped in a time loop and how can they stop it. This time loop creates enigma codes and make the audience to search for answers as to why this has happened. The narrative keeps the audience enticed and keep them hooked onto the narrative and story.
Part 3: Icons, indexes and symbols
1) Find two examples for each: icon, index and symbol. Provide images or links.
Icon:
Symbol:
2) Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?
They are useful because they allow words to be summed up into images or logos that are recognisable
3) Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?
Global brands may avoid this because in some cultures certain colours and symbols may be seen as offensive not not acceptable.
4) Find an example of a media text (e.g. advert) where the producer has accidentally communicated the wrong meaning using icons, indexes or symbols. Why did the media product fail? (This web feature on bad ads and marketing fails provides some compelling examples).
They are useful because they allow words to be summed up into images or logos that are recognisable
3) Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?
Global brands may avoid this because in some cultures certain colours and symbols may be seen as offensive not not acceptable.
4) Find an example of a media text (e.g. advert) where the producer has accidentally communicated the wrong meaning using icons, indexes or symbols. Why did the media product fail? (This web feature on bad ads and marketing fails provides some compelling examples).
In 2017 Pepsi used protest imagery to symbolise unity but people saw it as a mockery to serious problems and issues. This advert faced serious backlash and got taken down.
5) Find an example of a media text (e.g. advert) that successfully uses icons or indexes to create a message that can be easily understood across the world.
McDonald's uses the yellow M to iconograph its brand and it does so successfully. The yellow colour connotes positivity, and people see it and assume that its a brand perceived in a positive light.
5) Find an example of a media text (e.g. advert) that successfully uses icons or indexes to create a message that can be easily understood across the world.
McDonald's uses the yellow M to iconograph its brand and it does so successfully. The yellow colour connotes positivity, and people see it and assume that its a brand perceived in a positive light.
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