The document discusses representation in long form TV dramas through the use of signs and signifiers. It explains that producers construct representations to communicate intended meanings to audiences. Signs can have a denotative literal meaning and connotative associated meanings. Producers use signs through elements like camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scène to represent characters, groups and issues and reinforce dominant ideology. The document provides tasks to analyze how signs are used to construct representations in a drama sequence and evaluate the messages and values presented.

1. Learner resource 22
Long Form TV Drama
REPRESENTATION
Semiotics, signs and signifiers

2. Representation

3. • All media products are ‘constructed’
– they are made by a producer with a specific intention to create a certain meaning
– the producer hopes the intended target audience will interpret and accept the
meaning unquestioningly.
• Producers use different elements/conventions of media language to
construct these representations.
• Producers of different long form TV dramas may use different
elements of media language to:
– offer different representations
– communicate different ideas and viewpoints about individuals, social groups, social
identities, events and issues.
• Constructed media representations ensure that the meaning
‘encoded’ in media products can be quickly read and understood by
the audience
Representation in the Media
But…how is meaning created and how do we read them?

4. Constructing meaning – semiotics
and signifiers
SEMIOTICS
• Semiotics is the study of making meaning.
• It looks at how ‘signs’ in our everyday lives and cultural products
can communicate messages and values about our world.
• Signs can help to tell us or communicate how we should live,
behave and think within our society.
• Signs can be verbal or non-verbal (so visual symbols, images
etc…)

5. Control
thinking?
Reinforce
dominant
ideology?
1. Signifier
The sign itself – the
word, the image, the
sound etc…
2. Signified
The meaning associated with the sign
There are 2 levels of signification
(so, each sign has 2 types of meaning)
How do signs make meaning?
Every sign can be seen to be made up of the two following things:
b. Connotation
Associations or
additional
meanings that are
attached to the
sign
a. Denotation
This is the word used
to refer to the
actual/literal
meaning of the sign
The use of
signs in
constructing
representations
are seen to help

6. Let’s try applying semiotics to the following sign…
The sign: a bulldog
Denotation:
a mammal that barks
Connotation: Symbolic of
Britain due to determination
and fighting abilities

7. Now it’s your turn The sign: an apple
The sign:
a young male/hoodie
The sign: a rose
Denotation:
a flower
Denotation:
a type of fruit
Connotation:
Love and romance
Denotation:
A man aged between 14-
24/clothing with hood
Connotation:
Healthy and will keep the
doctor away!
The Apple company and
innovation in technology
Connotation:
Rebellious, criminal
and up to no good?
TASK
• You are going to practise
developing your understanding of
signs and the two levels of
signification: denotation and
connotation.

8. The role of signs and signifiers in
constructing messages and values
Write down a definition of what you think ‘messages and values’ means…
Any one sign can
have a number of
different connotations
and might be read
differently by an
audience.
The signs we see, and
the representations or
connotations that they
offer, are selected by
the producers of media.
Long form TV drama
producers and writers will
decide upon and select
which signs we see.
Each genre of long form TV drama will have specific
genre conventions that influence the use of media
language and the way in which individual characters,
social groups, social identities, historical events and
eras and social issues are represented through the
use of visual signs in the camerawork, editing, sound
and mise-en-scène to connote specific meanings
within the drama.
The meanings that
are connoted by the
signs of media
language are known
as ‘messages and
values’ and they help
to reinforce dominant
ideology.

9. TASK
• We are going to analyse a key sequence from our chosen
drama.
• We will analyse how the representations offered in the
drama are constructed through the use of media language.
• We will identify the different signs or symbols used to
connote meanings.
• We are going to reflect on and evaluate the signs used and
identify whether their associated connotations help to
reinforce or challenge dominant values and ideology in the
drama.
Analysing the use of signs in long form TV drama
Let’s have a look…

10. Making judgments and conclusions
Reflect back on your analysis:
1. What individuals, social groups, social identities, events or issues
are represented?
2. What signs are used to signify or connote meaning in the drama?
3. Are stereotypes used?
4. How is meaning ‘manipulated’ by the producer through the use of
media language conventions?
5. How are the representations made to feel ‘real’ or ‘truthful’?
6. What are the main messages and values that are represented in
the drama? Do they support or challenge dominant ideological
viewpoints?
7. Is there more than one meaning or interpretation offered in the
representation? How does the use of signs enable this?
8. How are audiences invited to respond to and accept these
representations?

11. Essay question
TASK - write a response to the question:
How are different social groups represented in the
sequence you have analysed? What role does the use
of media language, signs and signifiers have in
constructing and presenting these representations as
real?
Your response must:
1. Answer the question.
2. Use key terms learned to date.
3. Give a range of examples from the sequence to
support your ideas.

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© OCR 2018 - This resource may be freely copied and distributed, as long as the OCR logo and this message remain intact and OCR is acknowledged as the originator of this work. OCR acknowledges the use of the following content:
Bulldog - Anna Mandrikyan/Shutterstock.com; apple - Alex Staroseltsev/Shutterstock.com; rose - Elena Itsenko/Shutterstock.com; teenager – oleschwander/Shutterstock.com.
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