Semiotics Flashcards
Define sign
a physical form that conveys meaning
Define Semiotics
Study of signs and symbols and their meanings
History of semiotics
- Medicine - Diagnostics
- Symptoms
- linguistics
- 1916, Saussure - Social/ cultural context of signs
Define Signifier
the PHYSICAL sign
Define Signified
What the signifier describes
The description of the object or word
What signifiers are at work in the theatre? [5]
Dialogue - Words and how people say them
Costumes
Set - physical context of a play
Lighting - colour and tone of illumination
Staging/ blocking - Physical bodies on stage how they relate to one/another
Semiotics of theatre [3 + 6]
Aural - Music, sound effects, dialogue
Visual - set, lighting, staging, costumes, projections, actors
Types of space in a theatre [4]
Theatrical space - Architectural conditions, encompassing performance and spectator spaces
Stage space - Where actors perform, includes set design and movement of actors
Space of performance - wider social and cultural environment
Dramatic space - space created in the play - mimetic + diegetic space
Mimetic Space
What the audience sees, experiences on stage: set costume, makeup, lighting, actor movement, text, performance and sound effects
Diegetic space
Space that is talked about or suggested but not seen by the audience. Offstage space, imagined space and referenced space
Classical Theatre
- basic scenery + props
- Imagination plays a big role
- Lots of info conveyed through diegesis
Realist Theatre
- mimetic world resembles as closely as possible the real world
- Naturalism: environment on nature
Expressionist Theatre
- Distorted or unrealistic style focus on metaphor
- Suggests a deeper meaning
- Modernist movement
P. Modernist theatre
Combines elements of various styles
suggest multiple meaning created by audience
meaning is not fixed
Elements of design [6]
Sound design Set design light design prop design projection design costume design
