1. Semiotics exercises You have been asked to make a trailer for a children’s animated adventure film. You have been asked to make a trailer for a children’s animated adventure film. Where would you set it and why? Where would you set it and why?

2. Denotation The image is The image is (denotes) an animated shark partially underwater with the Sydney skyline in the background.

3. Connotation What do we associate with Australia and why is this appropriate to the message the poster is trying to convey? What do we associate with Australia and why is this appropriate to the message the poster is trying to convey?

4. Connotation In the first instance Sydney connotes a gateway to Oceania – the outdoor life, where exotic species live. Other connotations of Oz are irrelevant here. In the first instance Sydney connotes a gateway to Oceania – the outdoor life, where exotic species live. Other connotations of Oz are irrelevant here.

5. Paradigm Distributors of the film were choosing from a paradigm of images of Oz: outback? Sydney harbour? Ayres Rock (Uluru)? Kylie? Distributors of the film were choosing from a paradigm of images of Oz: outback? Sydney harbour? Ayres Rock (Uluru)? Kylie?

6. Syntagm A syntagmatic analysis assesses how words, images, colours etc form a CHAIN of meaning. How everything goes together suggests pleasures for a specific audience A syntagmatic analysis assesses how words, images, colours etc form a CHAIN of meaning. How everything goes together suggests pleasures for a specific audience

7. Connotations Now choose a setting for an action film. Now choose a setting for an action film. What connotations would your setting have and how would these be appropriate for your trailer|? What connotations would your setting have and how would these be appropriate for your trailer|?

8. Myth

9. Myth and ideology Think of a good guy and a bad guy for an action film. Think of a good guy and a bad guy for an action film. How might a trailer for the film suggest that they are good or bad? How might a trailer for the film suggest that they are good or bad?

10. Myth Do your goodies and baddies say anything about how the western media have influenced our idea of good and evil?

11. Myth Myths can function to hide the ideological function of signs and codes. The power of such myths is that they 'go without saying' and so appear not to need to be deciphered, interpreted or demystified Myths can function to hide the ideological function of signs and codes. The power of such myths is that they 'go without saying' and so appear not to need to be deciphered, interpreted or demystified

12. 1 st /2 nd /3 rd order of signification 1st)Your baddie is……(actor, part played) Your goodie is…. 2nd) Their costume/voice/manner/ appearance/ accent suggests 3 rd ) This underlines the attitudes in western culture towards….

13. Barthes and signification 1 st : a black French soldier saluting 1 st : a black French soldier saluting 2 nd : patriotism, pride, militarism 2 nd : patriotism, pride, militarism 3 rd Whether black or white/ young or old, people are proud to salute the French flag 3 rd Whether black or white/ young or old, people are proud to salute the French flag

14. Signification and myth Like ancient myths, this is not strictly true. The myth HIDES the TRUTH that France colonised much of black Africa and is responsible for atrocities against black people. Like ancient myths, this is not strictly true. The myth HIDES the TRUTH that France colonised much of black Africa and is responsible for atrocities against black people.

15. At the denotative level this is a photograph of the movie star Marilyn Monroe. At a connotative level we associate this photograph with Marilyn Monroe's star qualities of glamour, sexuality, beauty - if this is an early photograph - but also with her depression, drug- taking and untimely death if it is one of her last photographs. At the denotative level this is a photograph of the movie star Marilyn Monroe. At a connotative level we associate this photograph with Marilyn Monroe's star qualities of glamour, sexuality, beauty - if this is an early photograph - but also with her depression, drug- taking and untimely death if it is one of her last photographs. At a mythic level we understand this sign as activating the myth of Hollywood: the dream factory that produces glamour in the form of the stars it constructs, but also the dream machine that can crush them - all with a view to profit and expediency. (Hayward 1996, 310) At a mythic level we understand this sign as activating the myth of Hollywood: the dream factory that produces glamour in the form of the stars it constructs, but also the dream machine that can crush them - all with a view to profit and expediency. (Hayward 1996, 310)(Hayward 1996, 310)(Hayward 1996, 310) Marilyn Monroe and myth

16. Metonym How would you know your goodies are good and baddies bad? What would they hold, wear; what would be notable about their appearance? How would you know your goodies are good and baddies bad? What would they hold, wear; what would be notable about their appearance?

17. Metonym James Bond’s gun stands for something broader – a license to kill, justice, the defence of western values etc. James Bond’s gun stands for something broader – a license to kill, justice, the defence of western values etc. BMW often advertise cars showing just an engine to stand for power, efficiency. BMW often advertise cars showing just an engine to stand for power, efficiency.

18. Metonym Metonyms substitute words or objects and replace them with a part that represents something broader. Hence, the word ‘suit’ stands in for manager, ‘wheels’ for car; an image of frightened eyes to stand in for fear. Metonyms substitute words or objects and replace them with a part that represents something broader. Hence, the word ‘suit’ stands in for manager, ‘wheels’ for car; an image of frightened eyes to stand in for fear. What metonyms did you use in your film ideas?

19. Metaphor A Metonym is a type of metaphor. A metaphor is a representation of something that is not real, eg, ‘Her name is mud.’ A Metonym is a type of metaphor. A metaphor is a representation of something that is not real, eg, ‘Her name is mud.’ What metaphors would you use in your action film to convey values such as evil, good, romance, strength etc?

20. Metaphor In this classic 90s ad for Nissan Micra there are some obvious visual metaphors. What are they? In this classic 90s ad for Nissan Micra there are some obvious visual metaphors. What are they?

21. Polysemy Think of an image that cold be interpreted in many ways. Think of an image that cold be interpreted in many ways. Now think of a voiceover for an action film trailer that would ‘anchor’ its meaning and prevent misinterpretation. Now think of a voiceover for an action film trailer that would ‘anchor’ its meaning and prevent misinterpretation.

22. Polysemic images This ad (for Honda) is open to many meanings: This ad (for Honda) is open to many meanings: The caption directs us to a specific interpretation (an example of anchorage) The caption directs us to a specific interpretation (an example of anchorage)

24. Discuss how the ad makes meaning.

27. Heavy use of myths and metaphors here?

28. Now throw all your knowledge at this ad