JOHN FISKE (1982)
Denotation what is filmed, connotation is how it is filmed.John Fiske's theory relates to my horror trailer as denotation is what is there - for example elements of mise en scene including location, props etc. And I how I filmed it was with minimal, dark lighting, establishing/long shots, over the shoulder shots, and zoom out to show the different elements I set up to be horror.
FERDINAND DE SAUSSURE
Two part model of semiotics;
Signifier - the form the sign takes
Signified - concept it representsSaussure's theory relates to my trailer as what there are certain elements included in the trailer (signifiers) that connote specific ideas related to the horror genre, that make the genre recognisable (what is signified.).
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For my advanced portfolio I created a horror trailer, Get Out. Media Language is the way text is constructed to create meaning for the audience. This can include semiotics, which is the study of signs and symbols. These can be suggested by the micro elements of mise en scene, editing, sound, and camera work. The signs can be connoted in various ways depending on the audiences culture and personal experiences. For example, polysemic signs have various meanings and can be interpreted differently in different cultures. Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, and is the basis of all media language ideas, emphasising the importance of the inclusion of certain aspects that helps the audience understand the story and genre.
Hall (1980) suggests that all signs can be read either in its preferred sense, its negotiated reading, and opposition. This relates to my trailer in how I made it obvious that May was the main character and that the plot in a sense revolves around her. I done this through different shot types and other techniques. The main way I done this was through giving her more screen time. She is in almost all scenes shown in the trailer, this shows that she is crucial to the entire story and is the main character. Shot types also helped show the audience that she was the main character. I used quite a few close up shots and mid shots focusing on May which gave a sense that she was central to the scene as well. Composition also played a big part in this, with May either filling the composition, or being central, following the Rule of Thirds.
John Fiske (1982) said that denotation is what is filmed, connotation is how it is filmed. This strongly relates to my trailer and how it was created in terms of showing the audience that it was a horror, as I included many different elements that represent the horror genre, but rely on being shown a certain way. For example, I set my film at an abandoned motel, which in sunlight does not look too bad, however that would not have gave a strong sense of fear, or made it seem like a bad decision to stop there. In order to emphasise this point, I shot there at night so the place looked even more remote and eerie. Another example is the shots I used to show that the masked man was the antagonist. These were looking up at him and often with him being central to the composition or him filling it. These shots all together create an image that he is the one in power and is a main character. If anything, the way the different elements are filmed is more important than what is filmed, as there would be no point filming a bloody murder scene with the victim looking powerful or in bright sunlight as it would not convey the messages in the film or reflect the horror genre in the intended way.
In conclusion, I have followed various different theories regarding semiotics, in order to present to the audience the preferred reading clearly and show them what the genre is. This not only helps them to understand the genre, but also draws in fans of the genre clearly and effectively.
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