Semiotics

Theories of Representation: Semiotics

Semiotics in relation to media is the study of signs and sign systems. 

They were developed by Ferndinand De Saussure.

Some possible examples of semiotics used in a film can be:

• Odours (bad smells to signify something sinister in a film)

• Flavours (nice flavours to signify a happy moment)

• Colours (e.g red to represent danger, the film 'Sin City' uses semiotics in this way by dressing a character in a red dress and red lipstick to foreshadow the fact she is about to get murdered)

• Objects (knifes or blood particularly in horror, again, to signify danger)

• Clothes (mise-en-scene)

We have used semiotics in our own film through the use of scattering cigarettes, pills and fake needles around on a table and filming a close shot and shallow-focus shot of them in order to mirror Agnes' mum and dad's drug addiction. Our 'behind the scenes' video below shows our set up for the scene which we used this.

We also took inspiration from the particular scene in the film 'Sin City' (as linked above) with the woman wearing red to signify danger when considering the makeup for the character Agnes' mother: I applied red lipstick to her to reflect the dangerous aspect to her character. I further emphasised this by smudging the lipstick on her face; this represented the fact she had lost control of her life due to her severe drug addiction.