Choose a magazine cover and label the key features (signifiers). Go on to identify the producers intended messages through the selection (paradigm) and combination (syntagm) of these visual elements (connotations/signified meaning).  Place your diagram on the blog.

 Images on magazine covers/feature articles need to be of “pin sharp” quality.  The top third of a magazine cover needs to be visually striking.  A magazine title needs its own specific branding to make it stand out.  Covers should not use too many fonts or colours – font colour and images should be unified where possible.  Coverlines should be visible from at least two meters away.  The key function of the front cover is to sell the product.

MAGAZINE COVER LAYOUT KEY TERMS:

 Masthead  Puff  Coverline  Dateline  Skyline  Cover Image/ Cover Star (dominant signifier)  Features

Roland barthes- Founder of media

C.S. Pierce- Discovered semiotics

Ferdinand de Saussure- Developed a way of understanding how meaning is created

Semiotics – The term used to describe the study of signs and symbols and their interpretation

Sign- A gesture/ object/ sound etc that conveys a meaning. the smallest unit of meaning. Anything that can be used to communicate

Signifer- A signs physical form

Signified- The meaning expressed by a sign

Icon- sign which has a direct connection to its’ object (ie it looks or sounds like the object)

Indexical – sign which has an indirect link to its’ object (think smells)

Symbolic – sign which has a random or arbitrary link based on a shared knowledge or an agreement, for example, a shared culture or language (think letters, words, writing, shapes, squiggles, colours, sound effects, facial expressions, hand gestures, clothing, hair styles, etc

Code – A collection of semiotic signs

Dominant signifier – A code or item Anchorage when a piece of media uses another piece of media to reduce the amount of connotations in the first, therefore allowing the audience to interpret it much more easily.

Paradigm – where signs get meaning from their association with other signs

Syntagm- where signs get meaning from their sequential order, e.g., grammar or the sequence of events that make up a story

Signification – the representation or conveying of meaning

Denotation – the most basic or literal meaning of a sign, e.g., the word “rose” signifies a particular kind of flower.

connotation- the secondary, cultural meanings of signs; or “signifying signs,” signs that are used as signifiers for a secondary meaning, e.g., the word “rose” signifies passion

Myth – A combo of paradigms and syntagms that make up an oft-told story with elaborate cultural associations

Dominant – ideology Codes that reinforce or are congruent with structures of power

1.Roland Barthes- Founding father of media.

2. C.S Pierce- discovered Semiotics.

3. Sausure- developed an approach to understanding the way in which meaning is created.

4. Semiotics- the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation.

5. Sign- A sign is any motion, gesture, image, sound, pattern, or event that conveys meaning.

6. Signifier- a sign’s physical form such as a sound, printed word, or image as distinct from its meaning.

7. Signified- he meaning or idea expressed by a sign.

8. An iconic sign- has a direct connection to its objective, for example looks or sounds like the object.

9. An indexical sign- has sensory features.

10. Symbolic sign- random link.

11. Code- combination of semiotic terms.

12. Dominant signifier- item or code.

13. Anchorage-  is when a piece of media uses another piece of media to reduce the amount of connotations.

14. Paradigm- set of concepts, or thought patterns.

15. Ideology- believed by many people.

16. Signification- what we read.

17. Denotation- the literal meaning