2. SEMIOTICS
• The philosophical theory of signs and
symbols and their role in social life.
• From the Greek ‘sēmeiōtikos’
meaning "observant of signs“
3. • Ferdinand de Saussure was a swiss
linguist who was one of the first to
produce a semiotic theory during the
early 1900s. His theory claimed a sign is
made up of two parts- The SIGNIFIER
and the SIGNIFIED
SIGNIFIER- Any motion, gesture, image,
sound, pattern or event that conveys
meaning and communicates. (a word,
colour, image etc.)
SIGNIFIED- The concept, meaning or
association that the sign refers to.
For example- The colour BLUE is often
associated with SADNESS
4. • Charles Sandres Peirce was an American
philosopher that also formulated a
semiotic theory in the early 1900s. Peirce
stated semiotics to be the relationship
between a SYMBOL, ICON and INDEX.
SYMBOLS
Signifier does not
resemble the
signified- is purely
conventional
INDEX
Signifier is directly
connected in
some way to the
signified
ICONS
Signs where the
signifier resembles
the signified
5. Denotation and Connotations links strongly to both
theories.
Denotation- The literal or primary meaning of a word
Connotation- The feelings, ideas and cultural meanings
which are associated with the word- not the literal meaning.
Example-
ROSE
Denotation Connotation
Flower Love
Red Passion
Thorns Hurt
6. Semiotics can benefit my magazine design through the use of
colour relation. Certain colours have specific connotations
therefore the audience associate specific colours with specific
ideologies.
Common colours used in rock magazine include red, black
and yellow. Red has connotations of danger and power which
links to the rock and roll lifestyle which is associated with rock
music. Black has connotations of fear and mystery which,
again links to the reckless lifestyle rock stars lead. It also links
to the gothic image associated with rock music and how the
gothic style consists of black clothing. Yellow has mixed
connotations as it connotes warning and caution which could
link to the rock and roll lifestyle. However, it is also a very
bright, eye-catching colour with positive connotations which
draws the reader in.
