Roland Barthes//Semiotics
the idea that texts communicate their meanings through a process of signification
the idea that signs can function at the level of denotation, which involves the ‘literal’ or common-sense meaning of the sign,
and at the level of connotation, which involves the meanings associated with or suggested by the sign
the idea that constructed meanings can come to seem self-evident, achieving the status of myth through a process of
Tide (print): naturalisation Adbusters (magazine):
Hermeneutic code- ‘what women want’ creates Dream (music video): Woman (magazine): Used to construct ideas
suspense and is emphasises through the use of Many of the images Feminine elements are conveyed surrounding their main
exclamation marks (proairetic code) illustrate the lyrics but through semiotics, for example, viewpoints e.g. the dirt on the
Semantic code- use of hearts suggesting she connote deeper meanings in the pastel pink front cover, words front cover immediately
loves the product but her husband will also relation to the more abstract such as ‘soft’ and ‘puff’ in the conveys ideas of nature, linking
love her for using the product, reinforced notion of working to achieve magazine and floral dress on the to their ideas of climate change
through the colour red a dream. woman in the central image. and saving the planet.
Kiss of the Vampire (print): The Times (newspaper): Formation- Beyoncé Zoella (online media):
Hermeneutic code- enigmas are used to create Use of American iconography (music video): Used to help convey ideas
suspense surrounding the relationship of the male throughout the front and back Antebellum era dresses as about that person via colour,
and female character and the fate of the two victims pages and the American flag as worn by Beyoncé and the typography etc. However,
Semantic code- bats, gothic imagery etc the backdrop will have other Black women- this can cause the audience
Symbolic code- horror, fear and darkness are widely immediate cultural significance significant to referencing to focus on static elements of
reinforced through the imagery of moons and the for the reader who will be able slavery, semiotics are used the text and ignore the
male victim’s submissive sacrifice gesture code to create meaning in the to reinforce the message dynamic features that
associations with these signs. shown in the video. separate online media from
other texts.
The Daily Mirror (newspaper): Riptide- Vance Joy (music
Water Aid (AV): Attitude (online media):
Use of American iconography video):
Hermeneutic code- suspense is The use of the rainbow colours on
throughout the front page (subverted The video uses very literal
created through the slow-motion the homepage reinforces the
use of the Statue of Liberty) and the imagery for the lyrics, for
tracking shot of Claudia’s feet and the LGBTQ+ content of the magazine
colours of the American flag in the example green=money,
swinging bucket as it has become a symbol for the
article will have immediate cultural constructed meanings can
Symbolic code- drought ridden community. The use of colour has
significance for the reader who will be come to see self-evident but
African countries are reinforced both connotations of inclusivity and
able to create meaning in the may have multiple layers,
visually and through the advert’s welcoming for those in the
associations they will have with these Vance Joy does this often in
audio codes for the start of the advert community.
signs. the video.
, Tzvetan Todorov//Narratology
the idea that all narratives share a basic structure that involves a movement from one state of equilibrium to
another
the idea that these two states of equilibrium are separated by a period of imbalance or disequilibrium
Humans (television): The Returned (television):
Equilibrium- the family at home Equilibrium- parents in the meeting
Disruption- Anita joins the house Disruption- children coming back/ Victor
Recognition- Laura recognises there is something Recognition- going back to their parents/ meeting
wrong with Anita, reinforced through the people on family members
the hunt for Anita Resolution- setting fire to the house and
Resolution- not found in the first episode committing suicide (Mr Costa) etc
Equilibrium- not found in the first episode Equilibrium- cyclical structure showing the bus
The narrative is episodic and not all elements can crashing because of Camille and Victor (?), sense of
be met in the first episode satisfaction for the audience as their understanding
Non-linear elements occur in the episode through increases, learn it is four years since the bus crash
Anita’s flashbacks, breaking the typical structure There is no full causality as cliff hangers are needed
and going against the theory to keep watchers intrigued
Lack of linearity breaks theory
, Steve Neale//Genre Theory
the idea that genres may be dominated by repetition, but are also marked by difference, variation, and change
the idea that genres change, develop, and vary, as they borrow from and overlap with one another
the idea that genres exist within specific economic, institutional and industrial contexts
Riptide- Vance Joy (music video): Humans (television): The Returned (television):
The indie folk music video genre is The use of sub-genre- ‘Humans’ is made Differences presented in the show:
dominated by repetition, ‘Riptide’ up of sci-fi elements as well as family ‘Zombies’ are different- the undead
offers variation to these aspects, this relationships, romance, action etc, the are relatives and friends
may be done for artistic reasons or to use of sub-genres offers variation and The zombies are unaware of why
generate interest in the band to make allows genres to change over time they are back and at first are
a profit. Hybridity and intertextuality- brings unaware they have been dead-
difference to a text and new elements appear more like ghosts than
from other genres e.g. remake of ‘Real zombies
Humans’, Niska is reminiscent of ‘the Lucy is murdered- crime/thriller,
basic pleasure model’ Pris from ‘Blade atypical as death is usually not
Runner’, the robots reflect ‘The intentional for the genre
Stepford Wives’ who were domestic, Poetic French realism- different
beautiful, subservient robots as a from what we see every day on TV
replacement of real women Religious elements- water
Breaking conventions- ‘Humans’ breaks symbolising cleansing/ rebirth
typical conventions for the sci-fi genre,
for example the robots looking like
humans, this once again offers variation
for the genre and supports the theory
the idea that texts communicate their meanings through a process of signification
the idea that signs can function at the level of denotation, which involves the ‘literal’ or common-sense meaning of the sign,
and at the level of connotation, which involves the meanings associated with or suggested by the sign
the idea that constructed meanings can come to seem self-evident, achieving the status of myth through a process of
Tide (print): naturalisation Adbusters (magazine):
Hermeneutic code- ‘what women want’ creates Dream (music video): Woman (magazine): Used to construct ideas
suspense and is emphasises through the use of Many of the images Feminine elements are conveyed surrounding their main
exclamation marks (proairetic code) illustrate the lyrics but through semiotics, for example, viewpoints e.g. the dirt on the
Semantic code- use of hearts suggesting she connote deeper meanings in the pastel pink front cover, words front cover immediately
loves the product but her husband will also relation to the more abstract such as ‘soft’ and ‘puff’ in the conveys ideas of nature, linking
love her for using the product, reinforced notion of working to achieve magazine and floral dress on the to their ideas of climate change
through the colour red a dream. woman in the central image. and saving the planet.
Kiss of the Vampire (print): The Times (newspaper): Formation- Beyoncé Zoella (online media):
Hermeneutic code- enigmas are used to create Use of American iconography (music video): Used to help convey ideas
suspense surrounding the relationship of the male throughout the front and back Antebellum era dresses as about that person via colour,
and female character and the fate of the two victims pages and the American flag as worn by Beyoncé and the typography etc. However,
Semantic code- bats, gothic imagery etc the backdrop will have other Black women- this can cause the audience
Symbolic code- horror, fear and darkness are widely immediate cultural significance significant to referencing to focus on static elements of
reinforced through the imagery of moons and the for the reader who will be able slavery, semiotics are used the text and ignore the
male victim’s submissive sacrifice gesture code to create meaning in the to reinforce the message dynamic features that
associations with these signs. shown in the video. separate online media from
other texts.
The Daily Mirror (newspaper): Riptide- Vance Joy (music
Water Aid (AV): Attitude (online media):
Use of American iconography video):
Hermeneutic code- suspense is The use of the rainbow colours on
throughout the front page (subverted The video uses very literal
created through the slow-motion the homepage reinforces the
use of the Statue of Liberty) and the imagery for the lyrics, for
tracking shot of Claudia’s feet and the LGBTQ+ content of the magazine
colours of the American flag in the example green=money,
swinging bucket as it has become a symbol for the
article will have immediate cultural constructed meanings can
Symbolic code- drought ridden community. The use of colour has
significance for the reader who will be come to see self-evident but
African countries are reinforced both connotations of inclusivity and
able to create meaning in the may have multiple layers,
visually and through the advert’s welcoming for those in the
associations they will have with these Vance Joy does this often in
audio codes for the start of the advert community.
signs. the video.
, Tzvetan Todorov//Narratology
the idea that all narratives share a basic structure that involves a movement from one state of equilibrium to
another
the idea that these two states of equilibrium are separated by a period of imbalance or disequilibrium
Humans (television): The Returned (television):
Equilibrium- the family at home Equilibrium- parents in the meeting
Disruption- Anita joins the house Disruption- children coming back/ Victor
Recognition- Laura recognises there is something Recognition- going back to their parents/ meeting
wrong with Anita, reinforced through the people on family members
the hunt for Anita Resolution- setting fire to the house and
Resolution- not found in the first episode committing suicide (Mr Costa) etc
Equilibrium- not found in the first episode Equilibrium- cyclical structure showing the bus
The narrative is episodic and not all elements can crashing because of Camille and Victor (?), sense of
be met in the first episode satisfaction for the audience as their understanding
Non-linear elements occur in the episode through increases, learn it is four years since the bus crash
Anita’s flashbacks, breaking the typical structure There is no full causality as cliff hangers are needed
and going against the theory to keep watchers intrigued
Lack of linearity breaks theory
, Steve Neale//Genre Theory
the idea that genres may be dominated by repetition, but are also marked by difference, variation, and change
the idea that genres change, develop, and vary, as they borrow from and overlap with one another
the idea that genres exist within specific economic, institutional and industrial contexts
Riptide- Vance Joy (music video): Humans (television): The Returned (television):
The indie folk music video genre is The use of sub-genre- ‘Humans’ is made Differences presented in the show:
dominated by repetition, ‘Riptide’ up of sci-fi elements as well as family ‘Zombies’ are different- the undead
offers variation to these aspects, this relationships, romance, action etc, the are relatives and friends
may be done for artistic reasons or to use of sub-genres offers variation and The zombies are unaware of why
generate interest in the band to make allows genres to change over time they are back and at first are
a profit. Hybridity and intertextuality- brings unaware they have been dead-
difference to a text and new elements appear more like ghosts than
from other genres e.g. remake of ‘Real zombies
Humans’, Niska is reminiscent of ‘the Lucy is murdered- crime/thriller,
basic pleasure model’ Pris from ‘Blade atypical as death is usually not
Runner’, the robots reflect ‘The intentional for the genre
Stepford Wives’ who were domestic, Poetic French realism- different
beautiful, subservient robots as a from what we see every day on TV
replacement of real women Religious elements- water
Breaking conventions- ‘Humans’ breaks symbolising cleansing/ rebirth
typical conventions for the sci-fi genre,
for example the robots looking like
humans, this once again offers variation
for the genre and supports the theory
