Semiotics: Roland Barthes

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

Texts communiste their meanings through signification
Signs can function at the level on denotation and connotation
Constructed meanings can seem self-evident, achieveing the status of myth through naturalisation

Question 2

Denotation

Answer 2

Literal or common sense meaning of the sign

Question 3

Connotation

Answer 3

Meanings associated with/or suggested by the sign

Question 4

Connotative decoding

Answer 4

Looking at the emotional, symbolic or ideological significance

Question 5

Anchoring

Answer 5

Photographic imagery doesn’t have meaning alone and text anchors meaning

Question 6

Myth

Answer 6

Present moral viewpoints and tell people how to behave
Reinforce existing power structures

Question 7

Symbolic codes

Answer 7

Codes that represent things

Question 8

Semantic codes

Answer 8

Hidden meanings
Connotations to them that we understand as the audience

Question 9

Proairetic/action codes

Answer 9

Elements of media which signify that something is going to happen as a result

Question 10

Hermeneutic/enigma codes

Answer 10

Any mysterious part of a media text that will engage and hook an audience

Question 11

Cultural/referential codes

Answer 11

Something one will only understand if you are apart of that culture, age group, gender or time period