Semiotics

how signs communicate, method of communication includes words, images, sounds etc.

How is meaning produced by media texts.

Denotation - what you see - black flag

Connotation - the meaning behind what you see - pirate 

Any object or image denotes a basic meaning of what it is

A red face on a character denotes just that: a 'red face’

A shaking hand denotes… 'a shaking hand'!

Sometimes, an object or image within creates extra meaning beyond its denotation

A red face might be said to connote excitement, illness or exertion after exercise

A shaking hand might connote

illness, old age or fear

An object that signifies meaning is referred to as a sign

This picture = sign

The shot type, angle, his facial expression and colour inc. clothing = signifier

Cultural meanings within a sign system

‘Ideology’ is invaluable to socially-oriented semiotics because it identifies a unitary object that incorporates complex sets of meanings with the social agents and processes that produced them.

This is not a pipe, its a picture of a pipe. 

Romeo & Juliet

Analyse the sequence from Romeo & Juliet using semiotics

Think about:

Soundtrack

Camera Angles, Movement and Composition/Framing

Identify:

Signifiers (Denotations)

What is Signified (Connotations)

Any Ideological references

Romeo & Juliet

Classic story of Romeo and Juliet, set in a modern-day city of Verona Beach. The Montagues and Capulets are two feuding families, whose children meet and fall in love. They have to hide their love from the world because they know that their parents will not allow them to be together. There are obstacles on the way, like Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, and Romeo's friend Mercutio, and many fights. But although it is set in modern times, it is still the same timeless story of the "star crossed lovers".

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Writers: William Shakespeare (play), Craig Pearce(screenplay)

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo

Genres: Drama | Romance

Country: USA

Language: English

Release Date: 1 November 1996 (USA)

Production Co: Bazmark Films, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

i watch the scene from Tybalt showing up at the beach and the just after he killed Mercurio.

Camera angles - the scene starts off with wide shot of the Capulets pulling up in there car then to a close up on Tybalts face to show his anger.

this is is very dramatic so there are many close ups on the actors faces because the scene is a lot about what emotions are going on and the best way to see emotion is through close ups.