This document defines and provides examples of key concepts related to meaning, symbols, and narrative structure in media. It discusses the denotation and connotation of common symbols like snakes, flags, and guns. It also examines stereotypes associated with gender, social class, age, and more. Iconography in different genres like western, sci-fi, and fantasy films is outlined. Linear and non-linear narratives are defined and exemplified. Finally, a clip from Star Wars is analyzed in terms of how it communicates power through music, voice, armor, and color.

1. Theory- Meaning
Leah Brackpool

2. Snake
• Denotation
A snake is a long limbless reptile which
has no eyelids, a short tail, and jaws that
are capable of considerable extension.
Some snakes have a venomous bite.
• Connotation
Historically, serpents and snakes
represent fertility or a creative life force.
As snakes shed their skin through
sloughing, they are symbols of rebirth,
transformation, immortality, and healing.
The ouroboros is a symbol of eternity
and continual renewal of life.

3. Flag
• Denotation
A flag is a piece of cloth or similar
material, typically oblong or square,
attachable by one edge to a pole or
rope and used as the symbol or
emblem of a country or institution
or as a decoration during public
festivities.
• Connotation
A national flag is
a flag that represents and
symbolizes a country.

4. Gun
• Denotation
A gun is a weapon incorporating a
metal tube from which bullets,
shells, or other missiles are
propelled by explosive force,
typically making a characteristic
loud, sharp noise.
• Connotation
Guns are associated with anger,
danger, violence and aggression.

5. In this poster, it creates a meaning of power and war. The use of guns throughout the
poster shows that it is quite a violent game and that it will include danger and aggression.
The use of orange as a main color in the poster shows the energy in the game.
The fire represents destruction and motivation.
The costumes show futuristic vibes and also protection.

6. In this video game poster, it creates a meaning of power and violence. This poster adds
most races and body types, showing equality. The color blue is normally associated with
depth and stability. The color purple is associated with creativity (shown through the
Number of skins throughout the game), independence (shown with the solo mode of the
game) and power (shown through when winning a game).
The sword in the poster represents power also and protection and courage.

7. This movie poster creates an eerie, scary vibe with the disguises and weapons shown. The use
of the American flag shown throughout the poster and the use of the red, white and blue colors
shows patriarchy of the country throughout. Masks and costumes usually represent imagined
figures, and they can also be portraits. The eerie background sets the mood for the horror
movie role, and the guns shown throughout represents violence and aggression.

8. Soundtrack
• Clip 1 –
– This soundtrack gives off a spooky vibe by
the end. At first it gives off a action,
challenging vibe. This changes the effect in
the picture as if she is intimidating the
man or is forcing the man to do something
on the computer that could have a scary
outcome.
• Clip 2
– This soundtrack gives off a light-hearted,
almost romantic vibe between the two.
This vibe sticks with it throughout. This
changes the effect of the picture as if she
is kind of in love with him and is staring at
him in affection.

9. Shining
• The trailer shows that the movie is a romantic
comedy with the light-hearted music and the
backstory of the two main characters. The
vibes are pretty happy and in the end, both
main characters are happy.

10. Scary Mary
• The trailer shows that the movie is a horror
movie with the scary music playing in the
background. The way that the trailer is editing
shows eerieness and the random flashes could
come across as quite freaky. This can make the
viewer quite scared and possibly wanting to
see the movie.

11. Stereotypes
Men
• Are the ‘backbone’
• Are strong and do all the
work
• Are messy and unclean
• Quite dominant
• Out working
• Don’t get intimidated easily
• Men who spend too much
time on their computers or
reading are geeks.
Women
• Aren’t as smart as
men
• Can’t do a good of a
job as men
• Are not good at
sports
• Should stay at home
and be a house-wife.

12. Stereotypes
Upper Class
• Are healthier
• Work all the time
• Have good
qualifications
• Have big jobs like
business managers etc.
• Own their houses
• Eat healthily.
Working Class
• Lazy and unproductive
• Don’t have
qualifications.
• The ones that do work,
work in mcdonalds.
• Are unhealthy
• Live in council houses
• Eat unhealthy things

13. Stereotypes
Old People
• Can’t do things like
they used to
• Usually stay indoors
• Lack intelligence
• Are depressed
• Are lonely
• Less creative
• Unproductive
• More religious
Young People
• Lazy
• Moody
• Unclean
• Unproductive (males)
• More creative (women)
• Make friends easier
• Are outside more often,
going out with their
friends.

14. Iconography- Western
Guns are a part of western movies as most western
movies have cowboys in them and/or sheriffs. Also in
most western movies, common plots include outlaw gangs,
revenge stories or bounty hunters tracking down
and searching for his quarry.
This form of attire is associated with
western movies because this is
what they used to wear back in the 19th
century. This sets the cowboy
mood throughout the western movies.

15. Iconography- Sci-Fi
• The genre Sci-Fi is associated with
supernatural and imaginative aspects in life.
For things such as:
Aliens
Robots
Time travel
Spacecraft

16. Iconography- Fantasy
Movies in this genre mostly include supernatural
things such as mythical creatures, magic,
folklore or exotic fantasy worlds.

17. Narrative
• Narrative Definition
– A product’s storyline
• Linear Narrative Definition
– A storyline that is presented in the order; beginning, middle and end.
• Linear Narrative Film Example
– Iron Man
• Non-Linear Narrative Definition
– A storyline that jumps around the product’s timeline; out of
order/sequence, flashbacks, flash-forwards.
• Non-Linear Narrative Film Example
– Dunkirk
– Pulp Fiction

18. Clip Analysis
Power is communicated in this clip with the use
of intimidating music. With Darth Vader's strong
a intimidating voice, it shows that he has power
over Kanan and Ezra. The lack of shield and
armour both Kanan and Ezra are wearing shows
that they’re vulnerable over Darth Vader’s
power. With Darth Vader’s lack of colour, it
shows mysteriousness and separating him out as
the bad guys and also the lack of features.