Preliminary Exercises 1: Ferdinand de Saussure's Theory of Semiotics Analysis

 

Introduction

Signs! They are all around, but what do they mean? Semiotics, or Semiology, is a useful theory to consider when interpreting the meaning of signs, because it is not only the study of signs, but also their meaning. The mind behind the Semiotics Theory is a twentieth-century, Swiss linguist named Frank De Saussure, who during his years of studying language found that meanings and how people perceive things are centered around signs. Frank De Saussure constructed his theory, based on his studies and findings, that language is centered around signs, and those signs observed by both its signifier, and its signified meaning.

                        Key to Semiotics:

To explain:

 a sign, being the smallest unit of meaning, can be an object, or event, or entity, or symbol of something.

 a signifier is a sign’s physical appearance or form.

 signified meaning analyzes the conveyed ideas of the signifier.

By studying these three key components of symbolism in Semiology, filmmakers can demonstrate feelings or ideas in a way that cannot just be explained in words. Signs can add depth to what is presented in a film that evokes understanding and connections in the audience. According to, “Semiotics in Film: Theory, Functions and Examples, edubirdie.com, As filmmakers strive to engage audiences on a deeper and reflective scale. Thus representation. Filmmakers use film language or techniques to bring out this representation. Be it in the characters wardrobe, the setting of the story, the color of the set, actor movement etc. These subtle particulars can (and often do) represent society or a relay a message.”

To demonstrate how Semiology functions in everyday signs, the objective of the signs shown below are meant to exemplify how signs can be viewed in both its literal and symbolic lenses:

REFLECTION

These images are slides from a presentation that my class was instructed to collaborate on, applying Ferdinand De Saussure's Semiology Theory to ubiquitous signs commonly used and their historical significance, and connotation.

With the help of my personal laptop, and the laptops provided by my school, we were able to thoroughly research and produce this presentation, which allowed us to create this final product shown in the images above. Due to my experience of using technological appliances from an early age, and being awarded with certifications in technology classes, I would say that I am at least intermediate at working with computers, and phones (which I use frequently on a daily basis). The major content slides in this presentation explain that Ferdinand De Saussure developed Semiology, which analyzes signs and their signification.

-Signification: The representation or conveying of meaning.

Honorable Mentions

I was honored to collaborate with Peyton, one of my classmates and friends, and she contributed reliable research, images on both theorists Ferdinand De Saussure and Roland Barthes, and background information in this task. I provided definitions, designs, and analyzed or annotated information on the signs and research given by Peyton.

All in all, the Semiotic theory is beneficial information to study signs, how to effectively use signs, and can also help our class to sharpen our filmmaking skills in order to construct a successful film. Semiology allows the audiences to better interpret messages, moods, themes, and creates emphasis on certain aspects of film.

Work Cited:

• Edubirdie. (n.d.). Semiotics in Films: Theory and Examples. [online] Available at: https://edubirdie.com/examples/the-use-of-semiotics-in-films-functions-and-examples/#:~:text=Semiotics%20plays%20leading%20role%20in.

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• The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica (2019). Ferdinand de Saussure | Swiss linguist. In: Encyclopædia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ferdinand-de-Saussure.

  
  

• semio2014.org. (n.d.). Cinema and Semiotics. [online] Available at: https://semio2014.org/en/cinema-and-semiotics#:~:text=Semiotics%20is%20able%20to%20question.

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• Anon, (2022). 43 Symbols and Meanings in Graphic Design - The Noun Project Blog. [online] Available at: https://blog.thenounproject.com/43-symbols-and-meanings-in-graphic-design/.

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• freeiconspng.com. (n.d.). Flying Purple Butterfly PNG Transparent Background, Free Download #6721 - FreeIconsPNG. [online] Available at: https://www.freeiconspng.com/img/6721.\

Images

• https://clipart-library.com/clipart/8TzKKo8ac.htm 

• https://clipart-library.com/images_k/lion-king-transparent/lion-king-transparent-2.jpg 
• https://pymstatic.com/21412/conversions/ferdinand-de-saussure-wide.jpg 
• https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRESUhifqvqb2PWXN2r2Qq1OrTVLVgY-WGbI4rje62TJTnmggTWz2PzjMr60bqVLSAGMpc&usqp=CAU 
• https://opentext.wsu.edu/theoreticalmodelsforteachingandresearch/wp-content/uploads/sites/150/2020/12/TMTRFig18.png