Structuralism

Question 1

Ferdinand de Saussure

Answer 1

Suggests there is an underlying structure to culture and we need to identify and understand the structure as a means to engage in cultural analysis
Structure makes meanings possible
Interested in how language works and how we make sense of it in every day situations

Question 2

Sign

Answer 2

Made up of signifier and signified

Question 3

Signifier

Answer 3

Form of sign

ie the word cat

Question 4

Signified

Answer 4

Meaning.

ie four legged furry animal

Question 5

Roland Barthes

Answer 5

Applied semiotics to a range of media text to make visible the what goes without saying
Has a political purpose came to challenge the bourgeoise norm

Question 6

Primary signification

Answer 6

Produces denotation

A simple please descriptive ball of meaning with which most people would agree.

Question 7

Secondary signification

Answer 7

Produced when a sign becomes a signifier.
Produces a connotative meaning that references a secondary level of meaning that is wider and not based on description
Some social knowledge is necessary to understand the connotative meaning

Question 8

Myth

Answer 8

What people think is the truth