Media Magazine theory drop - Semiotics

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?

The opening of the film encourage the audience to figure out the two main characters through the view of urban youth stereotypes, framing them as dangerous threats and vulnerable victims simultaniously. 

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? 

The ending of the film flips the meaning of the chracters silence. The silence goes from a intimidation tactic to a sign of vulnerability. This proves that media images are always open to multiple interpretations. 

 Part 2: Media Magazine theory drop - Semiotics

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

Signifier-The physical form of sign that can be seen, such as a written word, spoken sound or a image. 

Signified-The mental concept, idea or meaning evoked by the signifier. 

2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?

Polysemy is the capacity for a single word or phrase to have multiple related meanings. 

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

He means a sign can become so familiar and widley accepted by society that its percieved as plain. Therefore, it is "neutralised" because we accept it without question. 

4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes

Hermeneutic Code : Elements of a story that pose a mystery or question, keeping the audience in suspense until it is answered later. 

Proairetic Code : The underlying logic of actions and sequential steps that let the audience guess what will happen next.

Semantic Code: Parts of the text that carry additional, connotative meanings or traits beyond their literal sense, often communicated via lighting or colour. 

Symbolic Code: Deeper meanings created through symbolism and imagery.

Referential Code: References to external knowledge and shared cultural understanding that the audience needs to fully comprehend the text. 

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

The writer suggests that the world is shrining aorunf the protagonist just like how russian doll shrinks thw more you open them hence the name of the film. The symbol of a russian doll helps to make sense of the narrative. 

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 build immediate meaning, guide audience interpretation, and bridge the gap between reality and cultural understanding.

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

Global brands avoid symbols because symbols depend entirely on cultural rules, meaning they can easily be misunderstood, cause offense, or fail to make sense in another country

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? 

Nike's 1997 Air Bakin' sneaker release - the curved lines was similar to the arabic script for God (Icon), in islamic culture the shoe touching the ground and getting dirty while having something resembling there God its seen as disrespectful (Index), in islam Allah is seen as the ultimate sacred symbol requiring respect therefore weatin g that shoe would bee seen as direspectuful and blasphemous. 

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.

McDonalds Frances 2019 Directional Fries billboards successfully communicate globally without words.The ad uses the icon of golden French fries, which anyone instantly recognizes. It uses the index of pointing those fries like arrows to show drivers which way to turn.It succeeded because removing all text and logos completely eliminates language barriers for everyone.