MIGRAIN: Semiotics blog task

 Part 1: English by Tarun Thind analysis

Watch (or re-watch) the short film English by former Greenford Media student Tarun Thind and then answer the two questions below:


English from Tarun Thind writer | director on Vimeo.

1) What meanings are the audience encouraged to take about the two main characters from the opening of the film?
That you shouldn't assume why people act the way they do or even judge them instead you should try understand them and they're point of view.
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? Some people may judge the boys for not speaking and assume they are trouble and incompetent however another way of looking at it is by trying to understand why they do not speak.

Part 2: Media Magazine theory drop - Semiotics 

Greenford Media department has a subscription to Media Magazine - a brilliant magazine designed exclusively for A Level Media students and published four times a year. We strongly recommend you read it regularly and also set plenty of work for the course based on the articles inside. You can find our Media Magazine archive here and for this task need to go to MM68 (page 24) to read the introduction to Semiotics. Once you've read it, answer the following questions:

1) What did Ferdinand de Saussure suggest are the two parts that make up a sign?
The signifier - the thing that does the communication
The signified - that which is communicated

2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?

• Are polysemic – open to interpretation/ more than one meaning.
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3) What does Barthes mean when he suggests signs can become ‘naturalised’?

• This is defined by the culture and society we are part of and Barthes suggests that because meaning is “naturalised” we accept it without question.
  
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4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?

Hermeneutic Code (Enigma Code): Refers to any mystery, question, or unanswered plot point in a narrative that sparks curiosity and withholds information to build suspense (e.g., "Who committed the murder?"). [1, 2]

Proairetic Code (Action Code): Relates to sequential actions and plot movements that imply what will happen next, building tension and audience expectation (e.g., a character raising a fist to strike). [1, 2]

Semantic Code (Semic Code): Involves elements within a text—such as lighting, costume, or recurring traits—that carry additional connotative meanings or "semes" beyond their literal definition. [1, 2]

Symbolic Code: Uses deep-seated symbolic meanings, often through binary opposites (like light/dark or rich/poor), to create thematic tension and highlight character or setting differences. [1, 2]

Referential Code (Cultural Code): Relies on an audience's external, shared knowledge of the real world, science, history, or cultural frameworks to fully understand references and meaning within the text. [1, 2]

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

Through the storylines theory convey throughout the show.

Part 3: Icons, indexes and symbols

1) Find two examples for each: icon, index and symbol. Provide images or links.

Icon: An image of Cat, Image of a Dog.

Index: A paw print of the animals that could resemble something else.

Symbol: The word cat and dog as that's something you are culturally learned and taught.

2) Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?
An Icon has a physical resemblance to the signified, the thing being represented. A photograph is a good example as it certainly resembles whatever it depicts.
An Index shows evidence of what’s being represented. A good example is using an image of smoke to indicate fire.

3) Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?
Not everyone will understand it due to cultural differences therefore they should aim for an index or icon.

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).

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.
Apple.