meaning theory

1. Meaning
Theory
Stephen Royle

2. Snake
• Denotation
A reptile.
• Connotation
Scaly, sneaky, venomous and
dangerous.

3. Flag
• Denotation
Piece of fabric with colours
on.
• Connotation
National and united.

4. Gun
• Denotation
Firearm.
• Connotation
Pain.
Danger.
Death.
Blood.
Anguish.

5. Poster Analysis 1
Bright colours.
Connotes big busy city; never sleeps.
Strange mask.
Connotates mystery and
something strange
happening.
Squares and lines.
Binary and coding. Very skilled in
hacking.
Purple suit.
Connotates wealth and
power.
Guns and gas masks.
Connotates war and
danger. Conflict.
The fonts are
distorted to give
the theme of
hacking.
Futuristic tech with the skull and all the beams
of light. Shows the audience that the game is set
in a highly developed world of technology.
The E in legion is bright red.
This could signify death and
destruction in the game
The primary colour of the
poster is black which
could symbolise that the
game is set in a dark
corrupt time of the world.

6. Poster Analysis 2
Mask connotates
mystery and
danger.
Big sledge hammer.
Connotates pain
and destruction.
Light shining through
the rubble
connotates that the
character is getting
closer to the end of
the mission. White
light can connotate
hope and purity.
Strong bold font in white.
Connotates a professional
team of specialists. White
light shows purity.
Small
connotations of
death with the
red strap on his
weapon.
Very misty and
dark to set the
scene of the
ominous
objective.
Debris flying everywhere
to show the destruction
and the power of the
character on the front.
The creators do not give
much away as the poster is
just one element of the
game. Makes the viewer
want to play the game.

7. Poster Analysis 3
Primary colour
is gold.
Connotes
wealth and
power.
Diamond
used as a V
shows more
wealth and
extremely
high class.
All men wearing
suits shows that they
are all wealthy and
powerful and are
very intimidating
together as one.
Direct address
connotes that
the me are not
to be messed
with.
Big bags of money
connotate corruption.

8. Soundtrack
• Clip 1
Made the two people seem like
enemies with dramatic thriller
music that builds up tension.
• Clip 2
Makes the 2 people seem like
lovers and makes it seem like a
romance or romance comedy
movie.

9. Shining
Lots of different techniques were used to make the shining a
romantic comedy. For example the shots used were slow and
intimate to make the audience believe that the characters were
emotionally involved together. The editors also used happy
upbeat music to change the perception of the film. They have
picked out scenes with mum and son a man kissing a the sons
mum to make the film a happy family film. They also use a
narrator over the top of the trailer to fit in with the stereotypical
family film. Use happy boy band music as well to fully develop
the family romance film genre.

10. Scary Mary
Lots of different techniques were used to make the Mary
Poppins a horror. For example they use dark foggy scenes at the
beginning of the trailer to set the scene and to make the
audience aware of the genre from the star. The editors also use
slow ominous music to set the scene as well and make the family
film a horror. They also use slow cut scenes displaying written
information such as ‘when the east wind blows’ to keep the
horror theme. The editors also add sound effects such as
heartbeats to build up tension.

11. Stereotypes
Men
• Earn all the money.
• Provide for the
family.
• Muscle of the
household.
• Strong muscly
Women
• Cook for the man.
• Look after the
children.
• Don’t earn money
• Housewife.

12. Stereotypes
Upper Class
• Sit in a big office
don’t work a lot.
• Big houses.
• Wealthy ancestors.
• Come from a big
family.
Working Class
• More manual labour
jobs.
• Generally work in
factories.
• Live in small
suburban houses.

13. Stereotypes
Old People
• Frail and delicate.
• Not as fit.
• Very wise and
intelligent.
• Have to be looked
after.
Young People
• Fit and active.
• Not as intelligent.
• Can cause havoc.

14. Iconography- Western

15. Iconography- Sci-Fi

16. Iconography- Fantasy

17. Narrative
• Narrative Definition
– The storyline.
• Linear Narrative Definition
– Where there is a beginning middle and an end.
• Linear Narrative Film Example
– Disney films.

18. Narrative
• Non-Linear Narrative Definition
– Films that start at different points. For example a
flashback.
• Non-Linear Narrative Film Example
– Deadpool.

19. Clip Analysis
The iconic imperial march music enters at the start of the video. This
shows the audience immediately who is coming and that the other
characters are in danger. The lighting is dark to signify the light and
dark side of star wars and to show that the enemy (Darth Vader) is
coming. On the flip side the good characters are wearing bright colours
to show that they are on the light side. The two lightsabres contrast as
the good guys have blue coloured ones to signify peace and hope. This
is contrasting from the bad side who have red that signifies blood
danger and death. Darth Vader speaks with a deep ominous voice and
breaths heavily. This shows that he is a battle warrior who has been in
action and has taken injuries in the past. This completely contrasts to
the good side as they speak clearly which also shows that some of
them need to learn more.