semiotics -miss constandi

Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and what they communicate to audiences.When a sign is linked to a meaning it is therefor called a code.In media we often describe that message given as being encoded by the creator and decoded by the receiving audience.Signs are simply anythings that can convey meanings,signs are used in media language to construct certain meaning through the use of mis en scene,sound,editing and camera angles.The similar alternative to code and decode are sign and signifiers.Ferdinand de Saussure believed that a sign is split into two parts(signified and signifier).The signifier is what we see and intake ,each signifier has a signified meaning within it.Together both make a sign.The meaning can also change depending on the context for example if someone was wearing a ring we would automatically assume they are married,as a ring symbolizes marriage.However in different cultures the signifier will be misinterpreted in different ways..This can also be described as connotation and denotation the connotation is what we culturally associate with that object and the denotation being the literal object shown.In this example the denotation is the ring and the connotation is marriage.Another theorist Roland Barthes took this further suggesting there are different levels of how a sign is decodes.The semantic code is firstly what we associate it with secondly the symbolic doe which is the deeper meaning that arises when different conflicts and ideas are brought up.Lastly the cultural code which is the audiences cultural understanding and knowledge their ideologies ideas , religion and morality.Those levels all decide how the code will be perceived by the audience.Therefor semiotics are very important as it explains how the media uses the same symbols repetitively to construct meaning to the media text.