Signs of Television Semiotics

Semiotics as a Science Swiss linguist Saussure (1857 - 1913) Charles Sanders Peirce (pronounced purse), (1839 – 1914)

Swiss linguist Saussure (1857 - 1913)

Charles Sanders Peirce (pronounced purse), (1839 – 1914)

Central concerns of Semiotics The relationship between a sign and its meaning The way signs are combined into codes

The relationship between a sign and its meaning

The way signs are combined into codes

Signifier + Signified = Sign The signifier is a physical object, eg- a sound, printed word or image. The Signified is a mental concept (bearing no necessary relationship to the signifier) The sign is the associated total which relates the two together

The 3 elements are determined by our culture or are in some sense, man made

The 3 elements are determined by our culture or are in some sense, man made

Iconic, Motivated Signs Portraits - photographs are iconic

The form of the signifier determined by either the signified or by convention The form of the photograph is determined by the appearance The form of the generalised car on a traffic sign is determined by convention motivated arbitrary

The form of the photograph is determined by the appearance

The form of the generalised car on a traffic sign is determined by convention

Arbitrary, unmotivated signs

Three orders of signification

Second-order signs 1: myths

Second order signifiers

Second-order signs II Connotation (denotation)

Metaphor and Metonymy The Crown A dish Players on the World Stage

Paradigms and Syntagms Selective/associative (or paradigmatic) dimension (metaphor) Combinative/syntagmatic dimension (metonymy)

paradigmatic syntagmatic

Media and Genre Paragigms