Semiotics

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

That the two character were not well educated and homeless with nothing to do and were violent. They both also were typical dismissive teenagers.

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?

It Subverts the dominate ideology as the guy helps the homeless old man and gives him bananas and they do not engage into physical violence with other people and they both have knowledge of political figures as teenagers which suggest that they may be educated.

Part 2) Media Magazine theory drop: Semiotics 

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

The signifier-The thing which does the communication.

The Signified-Which is communicated.

2) What does ‘polysemy’ mean?

Polysemy-Open to interpretations more than one meaning.

3) What does Barthes mean when he suggests signs can become ‘naturalised’?
It's a myth when the connotation is so well established we don't consider any meaning therefore it becomes natural.

4) What are Barthes’ 5 narrative codes?
Enigma Codes, Cultural Code, Symbolic, Action Code and Sematic Code. 
5) How does the writer suggest Russian Doll (Netflix) uses narrative codes?

Symbolic Code- Colours lighting costume and set design.

Russian Doll uses White for purity and Red for love or danger (theses are examples of Symbolic codes).

Part 3) Icons, indexes and symbols

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

Icon: A Person or regarded as a representative symbol. For example a Dog. 

Index: Gives evidence of what is being represented. For example a paw print

Symbol: Has no resemblance between the signifier and signified. For example Word such as the alphabet. 

2) Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?
Because a icon has a physical resemblance to the signified and index gives evidence of what's represented. 
3) Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?
The symbol may have no resemblance to brand and may represent something bad or disturbing without knowing and may be used in the wrong context.
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?

The Starbucks Print Ad 9/11 had two cups in thin grass (Icons) which the cups may resemble two building with a soaring dragon fly (Index) in the background with the words on top Collapse in cool (Symbol) which may be mocking 9/11. The media failed as the consumers looked at the print ad and suggested that Starbucks was mocking 9/11 which is offensive and seen as a bad which causes Starbucks to have a bad appearance.  
 

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 is a successful advert as the symbol is We are all worth it which creates a positive message which can be easily understood just by reading it and looking at the picture.