Semiotics

Question 1

Explain semiotics.

Answer 1

• The study of signs in our culture and how they communicate meaning
• A set of codes in which society follows in order to subconsciously decide a media product. These set ideologies may vary in different contexts )eg country, culture etc) due to different societies’ interpretations of the code
• encoded by producers, decoded by audiences

Question 2

What did Roland Barthes say semiotics are and why?

Answer 2

A myth, as it is the repetition of the interpretation that establishes it as a code

Question 3

What are Roland Barthes 5 codes?

Answer 3

• Hermeneutic (enigma)
• semantic
• symbolic
• referential (cultural)
• proairetic (action)

Question 4

Describe semantic codes.

Answer 4

Parts of media which have connotations, giving it a deeper meaning
Eg Wayne manor is huge connoting bruce’s extreme wealth

Question 5

Describe symbolic codes

Answer 5

When 2 semantic codes are in opposition with eachother, creating an antithesis
Gives new meaning to the semantic codes as they are in contrast
Eg green and red lightsabers in star wars = good vs bad

Question 6

Describe hermeneutic codes

Answer 6

When the writer deliberately withholds information from the audience in order to keep them hooked
Eg when mystery writers don’t reveal who committed the crime until the end

Question 7

Describe proairetic codes

Answer 7

Plot point which are caused by previous events and lead to other events
Eg someone drawing a gun - the audience wonders how the conflict is resolved

Question 8

Describe referential codes

Answer 8

References made to concepts that exist outside of the media piece - audience has to have prior knowledge of this referenced thing in order to fully ‘decode’ the piece - understanding of the reference may come from your culture/ethnicity/generation etc.
Eg The Big Bang Theory references star wars through lightsabers - a reference you will only get if you know the lightsabers are from star wars