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An introduction to Semiotics
Sign: An image/icon which conveys a specific meaning. For example a red triangle representing warning.
Sign: An image/icon which conveys a specific meaning. For example a red triangle representing warning.
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Signifier: A signifier is something that conveys something as having meaning; for example, a rose could symbolise love, passion and romance however if you added thorns to the rose, the whole representation could change to symbolise pain, heartache, even penetration. These are the type of signifier's used in films which subtly add to the message of the piece.
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Anchor: Something that ties down a signifier to a specific meaning, limiting ambiguity.
For example, A man holding a cigar could connote extensive wealth , as well as the size and weight of the cigar representing power and status, as well as definite masculinity. It is also a phallus symbol, and could be seen as a man overcompensating or promoting his sexual power and male dominance.
HOWEVER- If a female has a cigar, she is seen as taking a masculine signifier away from the male, metaphorically castrating him.
For example, A man holding a cigar could connote extensive wealth , as well as the size and weight of the cigar representing power and status, as well as definite masculinity. It is also a phallus symbol, and could be seen as a man overcompensating or promoting his sexual power and male dominance.
HOWEVER- If a female has a cigar, she is seen as taking a masculine signifier away from the male, metaphorically castrating him.
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Indexical Signifier: A signifier which can be interpreted in several different ways. It needs an anchor to tie down its meaning, these anchors are often genre based and depend on the context of the piece. An indexical signifier could be something like sweat; as it has several different connotations such as -physical exertion, -pressure/stress - sex/ lust or fear. These connotations need a genre tie it down to limit ambiguity and create a central message to the signifier.