MIGRAIN: Semiotics Blog Tasks :)

MIGRAIN: Semiotics

English by Tarun Thind

1) What meanings are the audience encouraged to take about the two main characters from the opening of the film?

The audience is encouraged to take the meaning of the opening of the film as they are silent criminals. As one of the boys is playing the harmonica in the park, a homeless man trying to sleep is entirely disregarded which leads us to believe that this group is a group that goes around causing trouble on purpose. We can see that both characters are wearing clothing that covers their bodies as well as hats which reinforces the fact that they have something to hide and this can cause the audience to feel suspicious and weary of them. This is further amplified by the fact that he puts something in his pocket that is unknown by the audience and then proceeds to put his hood on despite him already wearing a hat. This further emphasises the feeling of weariness that the audience has already developed about these two characters and the lack of smiles on their faces can replicate the fact that the protagonists in this film are troublemakers. 

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 allows the audience to develop different interpretations- especially towards the two protagonists because all of the actions we initially interpreted as inconsiderate and insensitive had a meaning behind them that we were unaware of. Learning that they were hearing impaired causes the audience to reflect on their initial thoughts and how Saussure's theory of polysemy is actually real and we all make assumptions unintentionally. This could result in the audience rewatching the video in order to gain understanding of other meanings behind the actions of the protagonist. 

Media Magazine Theory Drop: Semiotics

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

Saussure suggested that the two parts that make up a sign are the signifier and the signified

2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?

Polysemy is the idea that signs have more than one meaning so they can be open to interpretation 

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

The idea that signs can be 'naturalised' was suggested by Barthes and he believed that cultures and societies have associated a signifier with a particular meaning and we don't question it. As a society, we have agreed on these associations and we no longer consider them to have any other meaning as they have become the 'norm'. 

4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?

• hermeneutic/enigma codes- the mystery within a text
• proairetic/action codes- elements of action to add suspense
• semantic codes- parts within a text with additional meaning
• symbolic codes- symbolism within a text 
• cultural codes- an external body of knowledge 

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

The writer suggests that Russian Doll uses enigma codes due to the film poster using a woman's face within multiple faces which reiterates the title of the show. The tagline reads "Dying is easy it's living that's hard" and this raises curiosity in the audience because we are unsure if this protagonist wants to die or if she has had to overcome some hardships and then we are faced with the question of why she decided to live  and why the images are so repetitive. It can also be said that there is a use of semantic codes due to the city being in the background at the top and bottom and this has provides the connotations that the protagonist is likely to be trying to fit into a town or city but is having trouble doing so. There has been a heavy use of the colour red in this poster which allows us to make the assumption that there is a sense of danger for the protagonist- this theory is further reinforced by the worried facial expression on the woman. The cultural codes come from the idea that Russian Dolls are very old yet they have an undeniable beauty so perhaps this is a subtle way of comparing the protagonist to something undeniably beautiful. 

Icons, Indexes and Symbols

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

Icon:

Apple: picture 

Clock: picture

Index:

Hospital room indicates that somebody is sick or injured- link

Heavy snow indicates that it is winter and there is cold weather- link

Symbol: 

Avengers logo- culture

Netflix logo- culture

2) Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?

Icons are so important in media texts because they are the visual representation of something that the media is trying to convey to an audience.

Indexes are also very important in media texts because they are used to gain a certain reaction from the audience due to the links they have already formed.

Icon and Index paired together is likely to be the most common thing for an audience to experience without even realising it but they will feel something that is associated with the icon and index.

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

It is likely for global brands to try and avoid symbols in their advertising because different cultures and countries may cause different connotations to be formed so they have to use literal terms instead of symbols to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications. For example, something with a positive connotation in the United States may have a negative connotation in the United Kingdom and this may cause offence to a certain audience. 

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)

The icon here is the man and woman with the text in the background that reads "Spike your best friend's drink when they're not looking". The index was that you should spike your friend's drinks and this gives the connotations that taking advantage of somebody unconscious is acceptable. This is extremely offensive and insensitive to women and other people who have had their drinks spiked or have been raped. I believe that the advert thought that it would be a quirky joke that people would find funny but it turned out to be highly offensive. 

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.

This advert successfully uses the icon of a tub of Nivea night cream and there is nothing else in the advertisement. This creates a clear image of what the company is selling and leaves no space for misinterpretation. The index of this advert is that it is supposed to be used at might and the advert hasn't included anything else that may lead to misinterpretation or miscommunication. The icon and index paired together creates a very clear image for the audience with very little room for misinterpretation as all the facts are given instead of symbolism. 

First Blog Questions :)

1) Why did you choose A Level Media Studies?

My sister took Media as one of her GCSEs and I always thought it looked interesting as well as exciting and as I started watching more shows and movies, I became more and more fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes which led to me choosing Media Studies at A-levels.

2) Did you take GCSE Media Studies (either here at Greenford or a different school)?

I didn't take GCSE Media because I discovered my interest in the subject after we had chosen our GCSEs.

3) If you answered yes to Q2, what grade did you achieve in GCSE Media? What coursework task did you complete? What would you say your strengths and weaknesses were in GCSE Media?

N/A

4) What grade do you hope to achieve in A Level Media?

Hopefully an A or A*

5) What are your current thoughts about your next steps after A Levels - university, apprenticeship, work?

I'm still unsure of which career path I would like to pursue but I know I want to go to university after sixth form.

6) What do you think the biggest MEDIA story of 2021 has been and why?

COVID-19 was definitely the biggest Media story of 2021- especially with the development of vaccines and lockdown restrictions.  There wasn't a single news channel that didn't cover COVID-19 and even medical shows were basing their newest seasons on the pandemic. 

7) What media sources do you use to find out about news and current affairs?

I tend to find all my news from BBC News as I have found it to be the most reliable and unbiased. However, when it comes to news about celebrities and TV shows/movies, I tend to use Twitter. 

8) What was the last film you watched?

Shang-Chi

9) What is your favourite ever TV series?

Station 19 and Grey's Anatomy

10) How many hours do you spend online in an average day? Is this too little, too much or about right? Why? (If you have an iPhone you can use Screen Time to get an accurate figure of how much you use your phone).

I spend about 7 hours on average daily online and I think this is way too long and I can use my time more wisely and spend that time doing something more productive. 

Media Consumption Audit :)

 My Media Consumption

Newspapers

Which daily newspapers (if any) do you read?

I don't read the daily newspapers

What sections of newspapers do you turn to first, and why?

N/A

What sections do you never read, and why?

It's not very likely that I would read the sports sections because sports doesn't interest me much

What kinds of stories do you usually read and why?

I tend to try keep up to date with educational stories because they affect me and I want to keep up to date with changes to schools that might directly have an impact on me 

Do you, or someone else, buy the newspaper you read?

N/A

Do you look at the online versions of any newspapers? Which newspapers? Why do you visit their website and not others?

I tend to use the online BBC News because from my experience, they are the most reliable and unbiased with their news 

Magazines

What magazines (if any) do you buy regularly?  Why?

I don't buy magazines

What sections of the magazines do you read and not read, and why?

N/A

Television

Approximately how many hours a week do you spend watching television?

I spend a majority of my time watching television shows so maybe around 15-30 hours

What times of day do you usually watch television?

Usually after school and before bed

What programmes do you like best and why?

I like shows that have lots of plot twists and have lots of moments of high tension

Do you watch alone or with others? If you watch with others, who decides what you will watch?

I prefer to watch TV alone but if I'm watching with my mum, I choose the show because she tends to ask for my recommendations for new shows to watch 

Do you watch 'live' TV or on-demand/catch-up? Do you use any other devices to watch TV (such as laptop or tablet?)

I watch some shows live if I'm awake when they are showing- otherwise I tend to watch from my phone or laptop

Radio

Do you listen to the radio?

Occasionally

If yes, what stations do you like best and why?

Capital FM because they always play music that is trending 

Do you listen to podcasts?

Yes

If yes, what podcasts have you listened to recently?

Spoken Dreams 

Approximately how many hours a week do you spend listening to podcasts or radio?

Around two hours

What times of the day do you usually listen to podcasts or radio?

While I'm getting ready for school 

Where do you listen to podcast or radio?

From my phone 

What other activities (if any) do you do whilst listening?

Cleaning or getting ready for school or walking to/from school 

Does anyone else in your house listen to the radio or podcasts? If so, when do they listen?

No one else in my family listens to radio or podcasts 

Film

What films have you seen in the cinema in the last month?

Shang-Chi and Black Widow

What films have you seen in other places – for example, through Netflix, Amazon Prime, satellite/cable film channels (free or otherwise) or streaming?

Jennifer's Body and re-watched all of the Marvel movies 

Who else watched the films with you?

My sister took me to watch both Shang-Chi and Black Widow in the cinema 

Who decided what films to watch?

We both decided we wanted to watch them 

What devices do you typically use to watch films: TV, laptop, tablet, phone etc.?

I only watch on my phone and laptop 

Online

How often do you access the internet?

About 6 or 7 hours every day

Where do you access the internet?  At home, at college or school, or at work?

I access the internet at home and at school 

What are the main sites that you access?

Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, Disney+

What are the main reasons for accessing these sites – for example, for information, to make purchases, communicate with friends or for entertainment?

Entertainment and communication with my friends 

What other activities (if any) do you do whilst accessing the internet?

Sometimes I have a show playing on Disney+ while I'm doing work or eating

What different devices do you use to access the internet? What is your primary device for accessing the internet?

My phone and laptop mainly 

What social networks do you use regularly (e.g. Twitter, Instagram)? Why do you belong to these networks in particular?

I use Instagram to communicate with my friends and I use Twitter to get updates on my favourite celebrities and TV shows and movies

Reflection

How can you develop the amount and variety of media you consume?

I can start purchasing magazines as they might be something that really interests me

What will you change in your media consumption habits this year as a result of studying A Level Media?

I will spend less time on social media sites for entertainment and use that time to research current affairs 

List three sources of media (websites/newspapers/apps/TV programmes etc.) that you will start to access this year that you haven't engaged with previously.

I will try to engage with more magazines and news apps and movies