3.3: Semiotics - Assessment
- Page ID
- 299236
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At first glance, semiotics may seem like the epitome of ‘reading too much into things.’ But, as our materials for this week make clear, semiotic communication is a fundamental language of popular culture, and its power and influence on the human mind is a well-documented, empirical fact. Different words, images, sounds, colors, effects, etcetera, offer forth different meanings, associations and understandings, which in turn affects how we do—or do not—engage with ‘the thing’ in question.
If, as Streeter argues, semiotics offers a “very useful set of tools for identifying many of the formal patterns that work to make meaning in many aspects of our culture,” then perhaps we better put his words to the test. So, to that end: your task for this week’s discussion board post is to conduct a semiotic analysis on a media artifact of your choosing.
Perhaps you want to look at the promotional materials for an upcoming movie, album, or TV show. Maybe you want to look into the logo of your favorite snack brand, or a commercial you like/dislike. Maybe you want to think about the title sequence of a television show, or a scene from a movie. Maybe you want to think about political campaigns, or a fashion house you admire, or a music video. If it's a piece of visual culture you can analyze semiotically, it's fair game.
Whatever ‘artifact’ you choose, the goal is the same: to think it semiotically, to think about how decisions in sound, color, shape, lighting, framing, casting, dressing—the list could go on and on—serve to communicate the meanings intended by the creator(s). Your post should be at least 250 words, engage directly with the language and processes of semiotics, and include some way to access the artifact you selected (a link, an attachment, an image, etc.).