This document defines and provides examples of key film theory concepts including denotation and connotation, iconography in different genres, linear and non-linear narratives, and stereotypes. It analyzes the denotations and connotations of various symbols and images. It describes common iconography found in western, science fiction, and fantasy genres. It defines linear and non-linear narratives and provides the films Citizen Kane and Memento as examples of each. It also lists common stereotypes associated with different groups.

1. Theory- Meaning
Emily Whincup

2. Snake
• Denotation
– A scaly, limbless reptile.
• Connotation
– Seen as untrustworthy, sly,
cold-hearted, malevolent.
– Can be seen as satanic.

3. Flag
• Denotation
– Represents Great Britain,
Scotland, Ireland.
• Connotation
– Symbol of a place/country.
– Symbol of power
– Shows a union

4. Gun
• Denotation
– Shiny, metal, inanimate
• Connotation
– Dangerous, deadly,
destructive

5. Film – Thor: Dark World
• Denotation
– Superhero
– Desolation (suggested by the
background)
• Connotation
– Tom Hiddleston's character looks
malevolent & maniac
– The colours used shows the over
looming darkness.
– The props used indicates that
there will be fighting.

6. Video game - Bully
(Bullworth Academy)
• Denotation
– Animals (Bull, Rat, Snake)
– Crest (School logo)
– Fist and Skull
– Yellow and blue
• Connotation
– The crest represents aggression, violence,
and general unpleasantness which projects
into the game.
– The mix of yellow and blue represents
neutralism as the dark blue represents
bad/evil and the less significant is yellow may
suggest the good but there is less of it which
may suggest the character(s) are more bad
than good.

7. • Denotation
– Group of Men
– Muscles
– Red
– Blue
– Black suit
• Connotation
– The Demon hands are more
prominent than that of the
angel/soul hands at the top.
– Good and bad
– Suit may represent authority and
malevolence.
Series - Supernatural

8. Soundtrack
• Clip 1
– Its taken from a horror film.
– It makes you feel tense because it
sounds like something bad might
happen.
– The music suggest that they're going to
get attacked/chased
• Clip 2
– Its taken from a festive romantic movie.
– It sets a joyful mood because of the
romantic music.
– The music suggests that the two people
in the picture could look into each
others eyes and kiss.

9. Shining
• The Producer(s) of the edit has changed the story
from a writer going slowly insane in a haunted
hotel, to a goofy romantic comedy about a writer
looking for inspiration and a young boy looking
for a dad. They have done this by including clips
from other movies to make the film look different
as well as taking parts from the movie itself to
take away the horror/thriller part of the original
film, they have also included the song Solsbury
Hill which makes the film appear to be a more
upbeat and positive story.

10. Scary Mary
• The Producer(s) of the edit have recut Mary
Poppins to make it look like a horror movie by
changing the tone and mood of the movie. They
have done this by using creepy sound effects, and
by also making the clips from the movie look
weird and dark makes it appear to be more
sinister than the original movie. The recut trailer
contains the musical piece “A Violent Attack”
composed by Caine Davidson for the films ‘An
American Haunting’, and ‘Stay Awake’ which
creates an eerie atmosphere.

11. Stereotypes
Men
• Always dirty (from work)
• Drink a lot (Alcohol)
• Interested in cars/bikes
• Immature
• Like to pick fights
• Tough/strong
Women
• Can’t drive/Bad drivers
• Always in the kitchen
• Cleans and tidy's up
• Obsessed with their
appearance.
• Fragile
• Always gossiping

12. Stereotypes
Upper Class
• Snobby
• Like to brag about
what they’ve got
• Ungrateful
• Whine a lot
• Posh accent
Working Class
• Chavs
• Alcoholics/Druggies
• Dumb
• On Benefits
• Selfish
• Family orientated

13. Stereotypes
Old People
• Brittle, frail
• Boring
• Forgetful
• Set in their ways,
unable to change.
• Don’t have feelings
• Weak and helpless
• Can’t learn
Young People
• Addicted to social
media
• Don’t know what real
music is
• Always up to no good
• Can’t survive without a
phone
• To young to
understand anything
about life.

14. Iconography- Western
• Geography
– An actual place: the American West
– The landscape: deserts, mountains, rivers, Monument Valley
– Symbolic: wilderness as a site of savagery
– The frontier: the border of civilization and lawlessness
• Cowboys and Indians
• Horses
• Ranches/ Tepee's

15. Iconography- Sci-Fi
• Weapons – High tech machinery
• Space – Spaceships
• Space/time travel
• The Extra-terrestrial/Artificial intelligence (Aliens,
Robots, Mutants…)
• High use of Scientific Innovation
• Hovercars, Floating buildings via magnets etc.

16. Iconography- Fantasy
• Fictional – unicorns, vampires, werewolves, magic… etc.
• Good vs Bad
• Light and dark segments
• Mythology
• Unusual/made up characters, from fairies to ogres, strange
animals to things which possess human qualities but are far
from human
• Includes CGI

17. Narrative
• Narrative Definition
– Narrative is the media term for story telling.
– Narrative is the way the different elements in a story are organised to make a meaningful story.
• Linear Narrative Definition
– Linear narratives present stories in a logical manner by telling what happens from one point in time
to the next without using flashbacks or flash-forwards and then returning to the present.
• Linear Narrative Film Example
– An example would be Citizen Kana by Orson Welles.
– Although some films appear to open (very briefly) with the ending, flashback movies almost
immediately jump back to the very beginning of the story to proceed linearly from there, and usually
proceed past the supposed “ending” shown at the beginning of the movie.
• Non-Linear Narrative Definition
– In nonlinear narratives, the story is about more than just a beginning, middle and end. Often,
the order of the events is rearranged or deconstructed in a way that reflects the central
character's psychological state or the story's theme.
• Non-Linear Narrative Film Example
– A prime literary example is William Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury," which uses a stream of
consciousness narration to reflect the mind of Benjy, who is mentally handicapped.
– In Christopher Nolan's movie "Memento," the main character, Leonard, suffers from a type of
amnesia that keeps him from creating new memories. The story is told in reverse chronological order
to allow audiences to see its events the way he does.