Semiotics: The concepts & Key terms

Semiotics: The concepts & Key terms

Signifier & Signified
A signifier is a single detail we pick out which we think has symbolic meaning. (The signified): A low angle shot (the signifier) often signifies power or stregnth; with a high angled shot the signified is ofte n weakness or vunerability.

Denote/Conote
Denotation = description of what we see or hear; connotation = the symbolic meaning of these factual details: When we can denote a male having stubble and dark hair this often conotes villainy; this may be anchored through the use of menacing no digetic music.

Binary Opposition
The juxtaposition of the refined parson high up on horseback, and the lowly D'Urbville character, at the very beginning of the Tess mini series is an example of binary oppositio: any mutually exclusive pair form a binary opposition (male/female, rich/poor, rural/urban)

Polysemy/Anchorage
Every media text is essentially polysemic: It has many possible meanings. Our interpretation will be influenced by our knowledge of other texts, genres, our values, cultural background, age and gender. Signifiers are embedded within the text to point us towards a particular preffered, interpretation.

Commutation Test
Always consider what we dont see; the choices the producers have rejected

Preffered/Contested/Oppositional Reading
We may be maily considering what we consider to be the preffered reading, but as the texts are all polysemic, they are open to contested or even oppositional readings.

Narrative Enigma
Mysterious elements within a text form narrative enigma, needed in any drama

Intertextuality
Meaning of one text is tied to another, earlier text, e.g. to fully understand scary movie you'd need to have seen scream, which it spoofs. This can cause contested readings.