Semiotics analysis for beginners! | How to read signs in film | Roland Barthes Media Theory

Summary

This video script delves into the world of semiotics, the study of signs and their meanings. It explains how signs, such as symbols, colors, and camera angles, convey denotations and connotations, shaping our understanding of media. Using examples from film and media, it explores how signs are selected to influence audience perception and how consistent sign usage can create cultural myths. The script encourages viewers to analyze texts critically, unlocking a deeper understanding of media messages.

Takeaways

• 📚 Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and how we make sense of everything around us.
• 👔 The choice of clothing, such as ties and shoes, can convey specific meanings and influence perceptions.
• 🍎 A sign can have both denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (associated meanings), as exemplified by the Apple logo.
• 🌐 Signs are polysemous, meaning they can have multiple interpretations based on an individual's background and culture.
• 🎥 In moving image media, signs can include scene setting, sound, camerawork, and editing to convey meaning.
• 🏠 The video example of 'Tales of Terror for Tokyo' demonstrates how meaning can be understood without language through visual signs.
• 🎼 Sound in film, including music and sound effects, can significantly affect the audience's emotional response and interpretation.
• 📹 Camerawork in film, such as framing, composition, and movement, is a powerful way to convey meaning and manipulate the audience's perception.
• ✂️ Editing in film, including the sequencing of shots, can create tension and emphasize certain elements of the story.
• 📖 Media producers select signs to create specific meanings, which can have a profound influence on the audience's understanding.
• 🦄 Barthes' concept of myth describes how signs can become accepted dominant connotations through consistent cultural use, shaping societal ideology.

Q & A

What is semiotics?

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and how they are used to communicate meaning, particularly in media and culture.

What are the two types of meaning that can be derived from a sign?

The two types of meaning are denotation, which is the literal meaning of the sign, and connotation, which refers to the associated or implied meanings.

What does the term 'polysemy' refer to in semiotics?

Polysemy refers to the ability of a sign to have multiple meanings, which can vary depending on the viewer's background, culture, and ideology.

How does the script relate the concept of semiotics to everyday life?

The script uses the example of a person's choice of tie color to illustrate how signs can convey different messages and meanings based on societal norms and expectations.

What is the significance of the Apple logo in the context of semiotics?

The Apple logo serves as an example of a signifier that has both denotation (it represents Apple Inc.) and connotation (it may suggest high-tech, innovation, or mass consumerism).

Why is the concept of 'myth' important in semiotics?

In semiotics, a myth is an accepted dominant connotation of a sign that has been consistently used in culture, shaping society's ideology through naturalization.

How does the script explain the role of sound in conveying meaning in film?

The script discusses how sound, including music and sound effects, can create meaning by influencing the audience's emotional response and perception of scenes.

What are the four categories of signs analyzed in film according to the script?

The four categories are mise-en-scène (everything within the scene), sound, camerawork, and editing.

How does the script use the example of 'Tales of Terror for Tokyo' to demonstrate the understanding of signs in film?

The script points out that even without understanding the language, the audience can grasp the meaning of the film through other signs such as mise-en-scène, sound, camerawork, and editing.

What is the process of 'naturalization' in semiotics?

Naturalization is the process by which a sign becomes so consistently associated with a particular meaning that it is accepted as the norm or truth within a culture.

How does the script suggest that media producers use signs to influence their audience?

The script suggests that media producers select signs deliberately to create specific meanings, which can have a significant influence over the audience's perceptions and ideologies.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Semiotics

The first paragraph introduces the concept of semiotics, which is the study of signs and how they convey meaning. The speaker humorously compares their ability to explain semiotics to that of Matt Damon, highlighting the complexity of the subject. They discuss how signs can be anything from symbols to colors, and how they are interpreted through denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (associated meanings). The Apple logo is used as an example to illustrate these concepts. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of understanding signs in media studies, particularly in the analysis of moving images, and suggests that signs can be polysemantic, meaning they can have multiple interpretations depending on the viewer's background and culture.

05:01

🎬 Analyzing Signs in Film

The second paragraph delves deeper into the analysis of signs in film, focusing on four main categories: mise-en-scène, sound, camerawork, and editing. Mise-en-scène refers to everything within the scene, including set design, costumes, and makeup, which can convey feelings such as terror. Sound, including music and sound effects, can create a sense of fear or tension. Camerawork involves the framing, composition, and movement of the camera, which can emphasize space and the character's emotions. Editing, or the sequencing of shots, can also create meaning, as demonstrated by the extended scene and the cut from the girl's terrified face to the door handle. The speaker also discusses the concept of myths, which are dominant connotations of signs that become accepted through repeated use in culture. Examples include the bulldog as a symbol for Churchill and the negative portrayal of Dungeons & Dragons in the 1980s. The paragraph concludes by encouraging viewers to explore further topics such as cinematography and reception theory.

Keywords

💡Semiotics

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation. In the context of the video, semiotics is the core theme, focusing on how we derive meaning from various signs in media. The script explains that semiotics involves understanding both the literal (denotation) and implied (connotation) meanings of signs, such as the Apple logo representing high-tech equipment and consumerism.

💡Signifier

A signifier is the physical representation of a sign that creates meaning. The video script uses the Apple logo as an example of a signifier, which is the visual symbol that stands for the company and its associated connotations of technology and innovation.

💡Denotation

Denotation refers to the literal or primary meaning of a sign. In the video, the denotation of the Apple logo is simply that it is a representation of an apple, which is the basic or direct meaning of the signifier.

💡Connotation

Connotation is the associated or implied meaning of a sign beyond its literal definition. The script illustrates this with the Apple logo, which connotes ideas of high-tech, mass consumerism, and potentially other concepts based on one's cultural background or personal ideology.

💡Polysemy

Polysemy denotes the capacity of signs to have multiple meanings. The video script explains that signs are polysemous, meaning they can be interpreted in many different ways by different people, influenced by their background and culture.

💡Moving Image

Moving image refers to visual media that include motion, such as films and videos. The video script discusses analyzing signs within moving images, using a non-English film to demonstrate how meaning can be understood through signs other than language, such as visuals and sound.

💡Mise-en-scène

Mise-en-scène is a term from film studies that encompasses all the visual elements within a scene, including set design, costumes, and actors' appearances. The script mentions the use of mise-en-scène in creating a claustrophobic and cold atmosphere in a scene from 'Tales of Terror for Tokyo'.

💡Sound

Sound in the context of the video refers to the auditory elements of a moving image, including music, sound effects, and dialogue. The script discusses how sound can be a powerful signifier, creating meaning through tone, music, or even the absence of sound.

💡Camerawork

Camerawork involves the techniques used by a camera operator, including framing, composition, and movement. The video script explains how camerawork can be a significant signifier in moving images, influencing the audience's perception and emotional response.

💡Editing

Editing in film refers to the process of selecting and arranging shots to construct a coherent sequence. The script uses editing as an example of how the sequencing of shots can create specific meanings, such as the tension built by an extended scene without cuts.

💡Myth

In semiotics, a myth is an accepted dominant connotation of a sign that becomes ingrained in a culture. The video script cites the bulldog as a mythic sign for Britishness, illustrating how a sign can come to represent a broader cultural idea.

💡Naturalization

Naturalization in semiotics is the process by which a sign's connotation becomes widely accepted and seems natural or inevitable in a culture. The script discusses how the media can shape societal ideology through the repeated use of signs, leading to their naturalization.

Highlights

Semiotics is the study of signs and how we make sense of everything around us.

A sign can be anything from a symbol, color, to a camera angle, and it's called the signifier because it creates meaning.

Denotation is the literal meaning of a sign, while connotation is the associated meaning.

Signs can have multiple connotations depending on one's ideology, background, and culture.

Semiotic analysis in Media Studies involves identifying signs and understanding their meanings and why they were chosen by producers.

In moving image media, signs can be found in mise-en-scène, sound, camerawork, and editing.

Mise-en-scène refers to everything within the scene, including set, costume, hair, and makeup.

Sound in film can include music, sound effects, and the tone of voice, all of which contribute to creating meaning.

Camerawork is a significant signifier in moving image texts, involving framing, composition, and movement.

Editing in film involves the sequencing of clips and can create meaning through the way scenes transition.

Media producers select signs to create specific meanings, influencing the audience's perception.

When a sign is consistently used in culture, it can become a myth, an accepted dominant connotation.

Naturalization is the process by which media shapes society's ideology through repeated use of signs.

Understanding semiotics can lead to a deeper analysis of texts and a greater appreciation of media.

Semiotics can be applied to various media forms, including film, to analyze how signs convey meaning.

Stuart Hall's reception theory explores how different cultures and individuals interpret the same signs differently.

Learning semiotics can change the way one views media, making it a transformative experience for media analysis.

Transcripts

I'm gonna be honest I don't think I can

explain semiotics theory any better than

Matt Damon [ __ ] not that bit the

next bit this isn't even my tie

in fact our data suggests that I have to

stick to either a tie that is red or a

tie that is blue a yellow tie made it

look as if I was taking my situation

lightly and I may in fact pull my pants

down again at any moment a silver tie

meant that I'd forgotten my roots my

shoes

you know shiny shoes we associate with

high-priced lawyers and bankers if you

want to get a working man's vote you

need to scuff up your shoes a little bit

but you can't scuff them up so much that

you alienate the lawyers and the bankers

cuz you need them to pay for the

specialists back in Tenafly

in that clip he's basically talking

about the meanings of science and that's

exactly what we're gonna one careful

today in this video about semiotic s--

so semiotic s-- literally means the

study of signs in other words the way we

make sense of everything around us so

let's start the beginning what is a sign

it could be anything a symbol a color a

camera angle how do you know what it is

semiotic s-- let's take a look with an

example here is a sign something that we

can infer meaning from it's called the

signifier because it's creating meaning

now there are two types of meaning we

can get from this sign the first is the

denotation that's literally what it is

so 21 who recognizes it this is the

Apple computer logo however it also has

a connotation that is a sort of

associated meaning so although it is

literally a picture of an apple or a

logo it might mean to you high-tech

equipment technology made in California

iPhones mass consumerism now these

aren't the only connotations of this

sign because it depends on your ideology

your background your culture so

depending on these factors you might

look at this and think Chinese

sweatshops you might look and think

overpriced equipment the reason for this

is signs are poly semuc poly meaning

many so we can read signs around us in

many many different ways now I'm gonna

go into

more detailed but actually that's

essentially it it's the basis for all

semiotic analysis we do in Media Studies

identifying signs and understanding what

they mean and why the producer has

selected them

so other than logos where else should we

look for signs well it depends on what

kind of media form you're studying for

today let's look at signs in moving

image here's one of my favorite texts to

use as a starting point for analysis

it's cool tales of Terror for Tokyo and

the reason I like using it is because

it's not in English so when we remove

language which is where we get a great

deal of our meaning from how much can

you still understand based on other

signs in the text have a watch

da caravaggio vacante tell you - oh hi

Achilles I crap on thank again just now

so just to give you some context no

doubt you've picked up on the fact that

someone's trying to force their way into

this house and the little girl is very

scared you have no idea what they're

saying but you got a great deal of

meaning there because of the signs in

moving image now there are essentially

four categories of signs that we look

for in film the first one is nice on

scene which is a word which literally

means everything within the scene so the

set the costume the hair the makeup in

this particular case you might have

noticed that the corridor was very

cramped they chose to shoot it in a

place which felt quite claustrophobic

there was also a lack of decoration the

walls were very plain and white they

lacked personality almost felt very cold

and finally by selecting a girl who

looked quite sweet and innocent and cute

the feeling of Terror like when you're a

child was so much more than had it been

an adult trying to let someone in the

next category we have is sound so you

might see signs in the form of music

sound effects the way people sound I

mean listen to the voice of the person

behind the door

nothing nice don't you probably have no

idea what they're saying but the tone of

the voice that is creating meaning that

we should be afraid of this person

they're angry they're aggressive like

why sound can be used very effectively

with music here we've got these kind of

discordant chimes which almost sound

like prickles down your back and it just

as effectively creates meaning with no

sound

remember this clip where there was no

noise at all here the lack of sound is

what makes it feel so held breath so

terrifying next up we have camerawork

which is a huge signifier in moving

image text I've made a video all about

reading cinematography I'll put a link

at the end of the video but essentially

we can look at the way the camera is

framed the composition the movement and

how that might be creating meaning for

the audience so in this case we had an

awful lot of extreme wide-angle shots

sometimes bordering on like fisheye

again this really emphasized just the

amount of space and how small the young

girl looked in these small rooms and

then finally we look at editing in film

and this literally means the use of

sequencing how one clip moves directly

to another a couple of things which I

thought were really effective in this

clip was the extended scene where there

wasn't any cutting for a while because

this scene was so long again it added to

that kind of held breath sensation we

had with the lack of music furthermore

by cutting from a shot of her face eyes

widened terrified straight to the

door-handle

we're creating the meaning that she is

afraid of whatever is trying to get in

so now we know what signs are and where

to find them let's take a look at some

of the wider implications of semiotic

s-- signs are selected by media

producers to create specific meaning

take a look at this example in my new

magazine I could select this picture to

represent Plymouth or I could select

this one my decision is going to create

a huge amount of meaning for the

audience that's a huge amount of

influence I have over my audience my

selection of signs so what happens when

a sign is used consistently in culture

bartha's argues that when this happens a

sign can become a myth

myth is almost like an accepted dominant

connotation of a sign so a great example

of this would be a bulldog which at

least the British audiences is an

accepted sign for Churchill or

Britishness at the end the day it's just

a dog but in England it is an accepted

belief of what it means we call this

process naturalization think of it as

the media shaping societies ideology

through repeated use of signs so another

great example of a myth through the

process of naturalization would be the

representation of Dungeons & Dragons

throughout the 1980s the media kept

painting Dungeons & Dragons with very

very negative signs that signified that

it was associated with devil worship

that actually very nearly killed off the

game

so that's semiotic sin a nutshell once

you get your head around it and you have

that penny dropping moment and you

realize that everything you look at from

this weird shape in front of me which I

know means microphone but it also means

recording YouTube it means so much more

once you realize this it's kind of like

a bit of a mind-blowing moment and I

think media teachers always love it when

students kind of come out with that line

you've totally ruined watching films for

me because I'm looking at everything for

meaning now but once you get your head

around this topic it will really unlock

your ability to analyze texts now

there's a few videos I'd really

recommend you move onto from here the

first is the one I mentioned earlier how

to read cinematography so that looks

purely at how we can look at signs in

terms of camera work in film and what

they might mean or if you're more

interested in the idea of different

cultures different people reading the

same signs in different ways you might

want to investigate Stuart Hall's

reception theory which you can watch

here as always thanks for watching

subscribe if you haven't already and

I'll see you next time