semiotics

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

Initially, the audience is encouraged to believe that the two characters are 'hood rats'. This is illustrated through the way in which they disturb the sleeping man and the camera then zooms into the main characters pocket- suggesting that he has a weapon.

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?

It is revealed to the audience that the two characters are deaf. The plot twist changes the audiences view on the main character's previous actions and reinforces the 'don't judge a book by its cover' idiom. 

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

the signifier and the signified

2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?

something that has more than one meaning.

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

They've become so normalised its naturally/ instantly associated with something.

4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?

action code, enigma code, semantic code, symbolic code, cultural code.

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

Symbolic code in the title 'Russian doll'

enigma code- rotting fruit.

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?

icons and indexes are so important in media texts as they allow producers to communicate with the audience and helps foreshadow events.

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

To avoid miscommunication

symbols are things that are culturally learned which means that not everyone understands some symbols.

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).

 

 H&M  advertised a black child wearing a hoodie that says "coolest monkey in the jungle". 

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.