Semiotics: blog tasks

Part 1) English by Tarun Thind analysis

1) What meanings are the audience encouraged to take about the two main characters from the opening of the film?

From the short film the audience are introduced to the two main characters who are mindlessly hanging around in the park. Their attire is casual and baggy which can communicate them being part of a gang. Their movement could also insinuate a childish mindset where the first boy is intrigued by the object 

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?

By the end, we are focusing on the two boys who are revealed to be deaf by the use of sign language to communicate. Not only this but the boys also show their knowledge on political figures which indicates how instead of being in a gang and engaging in physical violence they are educated

Part 2) Media Magazine theory drop: Semiotics 

1) What did Ferdinand de Saussure suggest are the two parts that make up a sign?

Ferdinand de Saussure suggest the two parts that made up sign is: signifier and signified

2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?

Polysemic is the idea that everything is open top more than one interpretation

3) What does Barthes mean when he suggests signs can become ‘naturalised’?

Naturalised is when we have openly accepted a connotation due to our views as a culture and society and it s ye dominant connotation which is most accepted.

4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?

Enigma code

Action code

Semantic code

Symbolic code

Cultural code

5) How does the writer suggest Russian Doll (Netflix) uses narrative codes?

Just as when you open Russian matryoshka dolls they get smaller, something disappears each time their lives reset so it seems to shrink which is an example of the symbolic code. Moreover early on the camera zooms in on a bowl of rotten fruit which is an example of the enigma code.

Part 3) Icons, indexes and symbols

1) Find two examples for each: icon, index and symbol. Provide images or links.
Icon:

Index:

Symbol: 

2) Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?

They allow the audience to communicate with the symbol or to find evidence of what's being represented. 

3) Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?

Many people may not know or understand symbols as they have not been taught this alphabet or numbers. It could also be because of the language barrier 
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 media product failed as it did not clearly state its intentions of how the person receiving this message was not actually being stalked but receiving a gift of a car. Disclaiming a message to counter this and putting their car logo on it would have prevented the poorly marketing.

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.

This advert was successful with its use of icons, index and even a symbol. Even without they symbol the views are able to understand from the strong women who subverts typical female housewife stereotypes. Her muscles are the index where views find the evidence of the female not wanting to give up and staying committed to fighting for her rights. The symbol of the writing 'I can do it' influences the idea of not fiving up and encouraging other females to join in and subvert their expectations and positions in society.