Iconography refers to the use of visual symbols and images in art to convey meaning. In films, iconography provides insight into the genre through props, lighting, colors, and themes of life/death or light/dark. Directors use iconography intentionally to give viewers information about the type of film, like showing an axe for a slasher film or using minimal lighting on a movie cover to signal it will be a horror.

1. ICONOGRAPHY
B Y L O U I S E P I T T

2. WHAT IS IT?
Iconography is the use of visual images and symbols in a work of art. It also includes the
study or interpretation of these:
• - Lighting
• - Symbols of death
• - Props
• - Colours (red linking to danger)
• - Binary opposites ( a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning.)
(life and death. Young and old. Light and dark.)

3. WHY IS IT USED?
Iconography is used in films to give us an insight into what type of sub-genre it will be as
well as giving the audience some information into the film. This is usually achieved
through the appearance or use of props. For example, if an axe was being used in an
aggressive way, we know that the movie will be a slasher.

4. HOW IS IT USED IN FILMS?
In films lighting is a major influence in iconography. If there is minimal light on the cover
of the movie, then we can infer that it is going to be a horror because we link it to
darkness. Whereas, if we saw a cover with huge amounts of light, it may give us an
insight that the film id going to be a family film or a positive film.

5. EXAMPLES