What is Semiotics?

A tool that will help you analyse media products.

Task 1:

On your Header / Banner post provide 3 examples / illustrations of indexical, iconic and symbolic signs.

Which Theorists do you need to know for the exam?

• C S Pierce
• Ferdinand de Saussure
• Roland Barthes

Key language:

Semiotics

1. Sign
2. Code
3. Convention
4. Dominant Signifier,
5. Anchorage

Ferdinand de Saussure:

1. Signifier,
2. Signified,

C S Pierce:

1. Icon,
2. Index,
3. Symbol

Roland Barthes:

1. Signifcation,
2. Denotation,
3. Connotation
4. Myth
5. Ideology,
6. radical
7. reactionary

1. Paradigm
2. Syntagm

this link may help you to understand the distinction between syntagm and paradigm, but please do not worry about it! It is very confusing, highly specific and your understanding will develop over time.

Task 2:

You need to know all of these words for your exam as you will get tested on any number of them as a short answer question -usually question 1 in Media Paper 1. So please look them up and define them in a new post on your blog. THERE ARE 19 TERMS TO DEFINE.