COMICS

Stage 1 Semiotics

AIMS
To understand how signs help us to understand media texts
To begin textual analysis of media texts
TODAYS KEY TERMS TEXTUAL ANALYSIS SIGN CONNOTATION DENOTATION

SIGNIFIER
SIGNIFIED

RECAP
What do these terms mean? Media Consumption Message Medium Media Text Target Audience Institution

What is this structure called? Where does each element go? Which direction would arrows go in on the lines? Can you give an example?

SEMIOTICS THE STUDY OF SIGNS

All media texts can be studied as a collection of signs. One key element of media studies is identifying and interpreting these signs

This is called TEXTUAL ANALYSIS.

Media Language
MEANINGS within MEDIA TEXTS

SIGN DENOTATION CONNOTATION

=
what we see?

DANGER
what we think it means?

Task 1. Think of 3 other examples of signs and their meaning(s):

Love

Labour Party
England Rugby

Task 1.

Reading the Signs

A) For each sign describe what you see the denotation use as many descriptive words as possible. B) Then analyse what it could mean.

Task 2
Think of three other signs and their meanings.

Media Language
MEANINGS within MEDIA TEXTS

SIGN SIGNIFIER
What can be seen in the
media text

SIGNIFIED
What it means/ represents

TREE

PARK

Reading the Signs

Task 3. Identifying the sign and agreeing on its meaning is not always easy.

Some signs represent an object or concept solely by the agreement of the people who use it. This means that some signs can have a range of meanings depending on who is doing the reading. This makes the text POLYSEMIC.
What different meanings does the sign below have?

Media Language Another way of looking at it

MEANINGS within MEDIA TEXTS

MEDIA TEXT

DENOTATION
Signs which can be seen in the media text, which has been denoted.

CONNOTATION
The meaning in the media text, which is said to be connoted.

Content

(settings, props, characters, events, facial expressions, costumes, etc)

Impressions or Assumptions

audiences make when reading the denoted features

Style

(design, composition, framing, colour, cropping, focus, lighting, etc)

ANALYSING A COMIC BOOK CHARACTER

TASK 4 - WOLVERIVE For each of the denotations given, provide a connotation
POINTY HAIR FACIAL EXPRESSION

MOON & DARK BACKGROUND

BODY LANGUAGE

SHARP CLAWS

RIPPED CLOTHES POSISTIONED IN THE CENTRE OF THE PAGE PILE OF BODIES UNDERNEATH WOLVERINE ALMOST ALL COLOURS USED ARE DARK

ILO Task
Take this comic book character and identify at least four denotations and connotations.
Write in full sentences using this structure: Point Identify the denoted feature Example Describe in the denoted feature in detail Explain State what this could connote

Use all key terms from todays lesson

Should total around one page in your exercise books Extension Identify polysemic meanings for at least two of the denoted features

FOR COLOUR COPY GO TO www.hamptonlearning.com

RECAP
What do the following terms mean? TEXTUAL ANALYSIS SIGN CONNOTATION DENOTATION SIGNIFIER SIGNIFIED