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COMICS

Stage 1

Semiotics

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AIMS

• To understand how

signs help us tounderstand media texts

• To begin textualanalysis of media texts

TODAY’S KEY TERMS 

•TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

•SIGN

•CONNOTATION

•DENOTATION

•SIGNIFIER

•SIGNIFIED

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RECAP

What do these terms mean? 

•Media Consumption

•Message

•Medium•Media Text

•Target Audience

•InstitutionWhat is this structure called?

Where does each element go?

Which direction would arrows goin on the lines?

Can you give an example? 

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SEMIOTICS – THE STUDY OFSIGNS

• All media texts can be studied as acollection of signs.

• One key element of media studies isidentifying and interpreting these signs

• This is called TEXTUAL ANALYSIS.

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Media Language 

MEANINGS within MEDIA TEXTS 

SIGN

DENOTATION CONNOTATION

DANGER = what we see? what we think it means?

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Task 1. Think of 3 other examples of

signs and their meaning(s):

Love

Labour Party

England Rugby

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Reading the SignsTask 1.

A) For each sign describe what you see – the denotation – use asmany descriptive words as possible.

B) Then analyse what it could mean.

Task 2

Think of three other signs and their meanings.

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MEANINGS within MEDIA TEXTS

SIGN

SIGNIFIER SIGNIFIEDWhat can be seen in the

media text 

What it means/ represents

Media Language 

TREE PARK

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Reading the SignsTask 3. Identifying the sign and agreeing on it’smeaning is not always easy.

Some signs represent an object or concept solely bythe agreement of the people who use it. This meansthat some signs can have a range of meaningsdepending on who is doing the reading. This makes thetext POLYSEMIC.

What different meanings does the sign below have?

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ANALYSING A COMIC BOOK CHARACTER

TASK 4 - WOLVERIVE

For each of the denotations given, provide a connotation

FACIAL EXPRESSION 

RIPPED CLOTHES

PILE OF BODIESUNDERNEATHWOLVERINE 

SHARP CLAWS 

MOON &DARK BACKGROUND 

POSISTIONED IN THECENTRE OF THE PAGE 

POINTY HAIR 

BODY LANGUAGE

ALMOST ALL COLOURSUSED ARE DARK 

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ILO TaskTake this comic book characterand identify at least fourdenotations and connotations.

Write in full sentences usingthis structure:Point – Identify the denotedfeature

Example – Describe in thedenoted feature in detailExplain – State what this couldconnote

Use all key terms from today’slesson

Should total around one page inyour exercise books

ExtensionIdentify polysemic meanings forat least two of the denoted

features

FOR COLOUR COPY GO TO

www.hamptonlearning.com 

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RECAP

What do the following terms mean?

• TEXTUAL ANALYSIS• SIGN• CONNOTATION• DENOTATION• SIGNIFIER• SIGNIFIED