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, and that is what we are going to do today in this blog post.

In film, there are four ways of how semiotics are shown in film. These are through the mise-en-scene, editing, camerawork and sound (Beverly Boy Productions, 2021). These four categories can all produce signs for the audience.

In the film Jaws (1975), Steven Spielberg uses the colour yellow, as a subtle but powerful element of semiotics. In this case, the signifier is the colour yellow. For many people the connotation of the colour yellow can mean peace and tranquillity, however, Spielberg uses the colour yellow for a different meaning. Throughout the film, yellow appears on objects like beach towels, inflatable rafts, and even a character's clothing. Each time it shows up, a shark attack happens. The colour yellow becomes a warning and a sign of danger, preparing the audience for what’s to come. Usually, red is the colour of danger, but in Spielberg’s film, it is yellow.

Spielberg also uses semiotics through the camera work. Throughout the film we see a lot of close-ups on the characters when danger arises. This is a camera technique used to represent and show the fear in the character's face when Jaws attacks.

As mentioned before semiotics in film can also be seen in sound and editing. In Jaws (1975), the famous two-note music by John Williams is a great example of this. The denotation of the music is just two simple notes played repeatedly, but the connotation is much deeper. It’s a sign of danger, making the audience feel uneasy and warning them that the shark is coming, even before they see it. This famous soundtrack becomes a valuable part of how the story builds suspense.

Editing also plays a big role in semiotics. For example, in Jaws (1975), the editing changes depending on what is happening in the scene. During shark attacks, the cuts between shots are fast and chaotic, showing the people's panic and fear. In calmer moments, the editing slows down, making things feel safe and relaxed. This difference in editing helps the audience understand the mood of each scene.  

All these tools, the camera work, sound, editing, and mis-en-scene, help films create meaning and emotions without any dialogue. That is the power of semiotics in films.

Reference List

Beverly Boy Productions. (2021). What are the Formal Elements of Film Analysis? - Beverly Boy. [online] Available at: https://beverlyboy.com/filmmaking/what-are-the-formal-elements-of-film-analysis/.

http://facebook.com/filminquiry (2017). How to Analyse Movies #2: Signs, Codes & Conventions | Film Inquiry. [online] Film Inquiry. Available at: https://www.filminquiry.com/analyse-movies-signs/.

Kuhn, A. and Westwell, G. (2012). A Dictionary of Film Studies$ A Dictionary of Film Studies. 1st ed. Oxford University Press.

The Daily Jaws. (2022). Why yellow is the most important color in Jaws. [online] Available at: https://thedailyjaws.com/blog/why-yellow-is-the-most-important-color-in-jaws.

University of Vermont (2019). Definitions of Semiotic Terms. [online] Uvm.edu. Available at: https://www.uvm.edu/~tstreete/semiotics_and_ads/terminology.html. 

Zaichenko*, S. (2019). Film Discourse As A Powerful Form Of Media And Its Multi-Semiotic Features. The European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural  Sciences. https://www.europeanproceedings.com/article/10.15405/epsbs.2019.08.02.74