Semiotics Flashcards
Sign
A form of communication which we recognise
Signifier
A gesture, image, sound, pattern or event that conveys meaning
Signified
The meaning the gesture, image, sound or pattern conveys
Connotation
The feelings and ideas associated with the word or object - not the literal meaning
Denotation
The literal meaning of a word or object
White
light, purity, chastity, innocence, truth, modesty, peace, femininity
Black
gloom, darkness, woe, night, death, dread, terror, mourning
Grey
humility, melancholy, resolution, sadness
Red
blood, heat, fire, anger, hatred, cruelty, tragedy, shame, destruction, power, passion
Orange
warmth, laughter, contentment
Yellow
liveliness, gaiety, cowardice, decay, deceit, sickness
Brown
plenty, warmth, contentment, happiness
Green
youth, vigour, immaturity, contemplation, immortality, peace, solitude, jealousy
Blue
cold, melancholy, serenity, truth
Violet
sadness, quietness, purity, love, wealth
Purple
royalty, heroic virtue
Key
Freedom / escape / locked away/secret
White coat
medicine / science / authority
candle
Light in the darkness of life / truth / human life
Rose
Love / passion / romance / pain (thorns) / beautiful but dangerous
Semiotics
how meaning is created and communicated through systems of signs and symbols in drama. An audience “reads’ or “interprets” all elements on stage that are presented to them.
Where a character is positioned shows…
their relationship to other characters.
If they are standing close to each other, it shows…
that they have a close relationship.
If the characters are stood far apart from each other, you could assume …
that they either did not know each other at all, or had fallen out and were no longer speaking to each other.
If you want to show that someone is in control, you could …
place the actor on a higher level than the rest of the characters onstage.
Spooky music causes…
tension
Birdsong suggests…
it is morning
Silence creates …
dramatic tension
Whispering can represent
secrecy
Spotlight can suggest …
isolation
Bright light can suggest …
normality
Darkness creates …
fear
Torchlight causes…
suspense
