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![Semiotics and Roland Barthes
Barthes is credited with 3 key ideas that you are required to know and
understand
• [Media] Texts communicate their meanings through a process of
signification
• Signs can function at the level of denotation, which involves the ‘literal’ or
common-sense meaning of the sign, and at the level of connotation, which
involves the meanings associated with or suggested by the sign.
• Constructed meanings can come to seem self-evident, achieving the status
of myth through a process of naturalisation.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/asmediastudies1-190909085049/75/A1Y1-Media-Studies-1-2-introduction-textual-analysis-and-semiotics-23-2048.jpg)
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A1Y1 Media Studies 1.2 introduction textual analysis and semiotics
- 2. 1.2 INTRODUCTION TOTEXTUAL ANALYSIS AND SEMIOTICS
- 3. SIGNS What do thefollowing signs mean to you?
- 4. SIGNS What do thefollowing signs mean to you?
- 5. ‘GOOD!’, ‘YES!’, ‘OK!’,‘ALRIGHT!’
- 7. But in partsof the Middle East, this signal is considered extremely rude – equivalent to ‘Up Yours’!
- 8. But in partsof the Middle East, this signal is considered extremely rude – equivalent to ‘Up Yours’!
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- 12. Or you’re anInternet conspiracist in which case you believe it is a sign of The Number of the Beast (666) and The Illuminati
- 13. Introducing Textual Analysis Akey feature of studying the media is TEXTUAL ANALYSIS. This is when we ANALYSE media ‘texts’. These are not just written texts, but will include all types of media – adverts, music videos, TV & Radio programmes, magazines, DVD sleeves, videos games, films, etc…
- 14. Introducing Textual Analysis Whatdo you think ANALYSE means? TASK: In pairs, write a single sentence definition. • To study something closely. • To break something down into its component parts • To examine a structure critically and in detail to explain/interpret it and discover its meaning. Why do you think we ANALYSE texts?
- 15. Semiotics (AKA Semiology) TheStudy of Signs Examines how symbolic, written and technical signs construct meaning Looks at how meaning is made and understood A sign is something that stands for something other than itself. For example:
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- 20. What do youthink this sign represents?
- 21. What do youthink this sign represents?
- 22. Semiotics and RolandBarthes Roland Barthes (1915-1980) was a French literary theorist, philosopher, linguist, critic, and semiotician
- 23. Semiotics and RolandBarthes Barthes is credited with 3 key ideas that you are required to know and understand • [Media] Texts communicate their meanings through a process of signification • Signs can function at the level of denotation, which involves the ‘literal’ or common-sense meaning of the sign, and at the level of connotation, which involves the meanings associated with or suggested by the sign. • Constructed meanings can come to seem self-evident, achieving the status of myth through a process of naturalisation.
- 24. Signification: Denotation &Connotation THE SIGNIFIED The concept/ meaning/associations that the sign refers to (i.e. BLUE is often associated with sadness or the sea etc.). = The CONNOTATION(S) THE SIGNIFIER The actual thing: a word, colour or image (i.e. the colour BLUE). = The DENOTATION THE SIGN + =
- 25. The Sign: Example TheSignifier (denotes) The Signified (connotes) X
- 26. The Sign: Example TheSignifier (denotes) The Signified (connotes) Two black lines crossing each other diagonally X
- 27. The Sign: Example TheSignifier (denotes) The Signified (connotes) Two black lines crossing each other diagonally The letter ‘X’, The Roman numeral 10, A Kiss, Treasure, Incorrect, Danger, Toxic, No, A signature Unknown ‘Extra’ X
- 28. The Sign: Example TheSignifier (denotes) The Signified (connotes) The connotations may change depending upon who is interpreting the sign and the cultural context. The denotation always stays the same.
- 29. Media Textual Analysis,Signs and Codes When deconstructing media texts to analyse them, we are breaking them down into signs or codes. Media texts may be made out of a range of types of codes Visual Codes: use of colour, costume, gesture, expression, font, etc Technical Codes; use of camera (framing, angle), editing, audio and SFX (*Induction hwk)
- 30. Analysing Visual Codes Consider thisimage. What meaning is made by the use of • Colour, • Costume, • Gesture and expression, • Props • Setting • Other? What do these codes tell you about the character /narrative /genre / target audience? For each codes – state the demotation and connotation
- 31. Colour Costume Gesture &Expression Other Analysing Visual Codes