This document discusses various concepts related to meaning and symbolism. It provides denotations and connotations for different symbols like snakes, flags, and guns. It also analyzes posters, characters, and clips from films to understand how meaning is conveyed through visual and audio elements like colors, music, lighting, costumes, and actions. Stereotypes related to gender, class, age and genres are also examined in terms of their symbolic associations.

1. Theory- Meaning
Louis Harman

2. Snake
• Denotation-A limbless,
scaly, elongate reptile.
• Connotation- Devious,
cold-hearted and
untrustworthy.

3. Flag
• Denotation-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-Britishness, the
queen, island,

4. Gun
• Denotation- a weapon in
which metal bullets are
fired out of the front.
• Connotation- death, power,
violence, war and fear.

5. The Nightmare Before
Christmas
This poster has been created to
create thee feeling of darkness,
loneliness, emptiness and fear.
This is shown mainly by the
colours of black and a very dark
purple, also the props which are
mainly pumpkins and
gravestones which resemble
Halloween or death both very
dark topics.
The character shown on the hill
represents the meaning on its
own as he is a tall and slender
skeleton wearing a black and
white torn suit, the way the
director has created his character
gives of dark and evil effect.

6. Good
I believe that this character
is a good guy due to the
colour of his lightsaber
which is a light blue which
normally represents loyalty,
wisdom or hope which are
the common characteristics
of a hero or protagonist.
also his aesthetic with the
robe and white beard
almost give of a wise and
loving vibe and make him
look like a powerful figure.

7. The Conjuring
This poster has been made to give of a
fearing, sad horror effect to push the
meaning of the film, the way in which the
creator has done this is first by the noose
hanging from the dark tree which shows
that the film may be centered around
someone who has died at this place. Also
the tree which the rope is tied too has
been made to look old and dead which
makes the image more threatening and
eerie, the tree is also very dark and has no
leaves which once again shows the feel of
death on the poster once again giving it this
horror meaning.

8. Soundtrack
• Clip 1
• Clip 2

9. Shining
• In this video the shining has been changed into a romantic comedy
there are several key elements that have been done to give of this
effect, firstly the music used in the clip starts of peaceful giving of a
calm feeling then it changes too a slower more depressing tune
giving it a sad feeling then at the last part they have added joyful
music which makes it all happy and full of joy, this style of music
gives the clips this romantic amd happy genre. The second key
element that gives it the romance and comedy is the voice other
throughout the video, the man talking has a relaxing and happy
voice and is talking about the story of a writer looking for
inspiration and a young boy looking for a father it then goes on too
talk of the struggles and meeting of the two and continues to show
how they both get happier throughout it after they are brought
together.

10. Scary Mary
In this video the creator has changed Mary Poppins in to much
darker and eerie horror film, they have used a couple of ways in
doing this. The first change you notice is the music has slowed
down completely and has a wind and bell echoing in the back
which makes you feel more on edge and threatened.
The second element they changed was the lighting on the scenes
by making it far darker then normal, changing this is a good way
to give it the more horror feel and make the film seem much
darker in general.

11. Stereotypes
Men
• All men love cars
• All men love sports
• Men are all lazy
• Men are all messy
• Only men can do “dirty jobs”
Women
• Women are meant to clean
• Women are nurses not
doctors
• Women don’t play sports
• Women cant drive
• Women are all good cooks
• Women are smarter the
men

12. Stereotypes
Upper Class
• Snobby
• rich
• Intellectual
• Well spoken
• Posh
• Land owners
• High end properties
Working Class
• Factory workers
• Manual work
• Litlle savings
• Poor

13. Stereotypes
Old People
• Poor health
• Less productive
• Forgetful
• Boring
• Set in there way
• No feelings
Young People
• Good health
• Reckless
• Disruptive
• Cause violance

14. Iconography- Western

15. Iconography- Sci-Fi

16. Iconography- Fantasy

17. Narrative
• Narrative Definition- the storyline of a product
• Linear Narrative Definition-a story line that follows the
correct order; beginning, middle and end.
• Linear Narrative Film Example- dark knight rises
• Non-Linear Narrative Definition- a story line that jumps
around the timeline with flashbacks, out of order
sequences and flash forwards.
• Non-Linear Narrative Film Example-pulp fiction

18. Clip Analysis
• In this clip the creator has given characters certain meanings, the
way this has been done is through several things. First off darth
vaders costume and actions all allow him to be seen as evil and
violent, his entire outfit is black and light saber red these two
particular colours are commonly used too portray darkness and
death, also the way that he moves and acts are violent and
threatening showing he is not a nice person.
• In this clip the lighting, music and colours all give the seen an action
and tense meaning, the lighting in the scene is quite dark and dull
but the colours of certain props and editing are much brighter
allowing things such as the light sabers and fire to stand out making
the fighting in the clip more enjoyable and eyecathing.