How Films Create Meaning Beyond Words
According to Kuhn and Westwell (2012), semiotics is “the systematic study of signs and symbols.” Semiotics is a sign, then the sign is split into the denotation and the connotation. We are surrounded by semiotics . For example, in the image above, the sign (signifier) is the Adidas logo because it creates meaning and is the first thing we see. From this sign, we can get two types of meaning: denotation and connotation (University of Vermont, 2019). The denotation is the literal meaning of the sign (University of Vermont, 2019), which in this case is the sports brand, Adidas. Then the connotation is the signified meaning of the sign (University of Vermont, 2019). For example, when you look at this logo you think about sports, comfort and many more interpretations depending on your experiences and culture. These steps are the basic steps of semiotic analysis in media. We find the signs, identify what is the meaning, and find out why the director chose to use them, a...