Photo-story – Semiotics assignment

TASK
Answer these questions on semiotics based on this photograph by AnaStasia Rudenko and the photo of David Cameron.
Then replace the picture for one of yours and answer the questions again.

1. Identify the signifiers in this picture?
The main signifiers in this image are the 6 displeased looking men featured in army gear and also the painting in the background. I think the plain wall also is a signifier.

2. What do they signify?
With all the men having the same bald head and outfit it signifies the conformity that comes with being in the army. The idea that everyone looks the same is so that their maximum concentration is on the war, and not themselves. Their facial expressions are all similar; this is a clear indication of how they’re all feeling. They seem disconnected and in deep thought; potentially dreaming of a better place, like the place featured in the painting.
The painting itself has many denotations. From initial glance it seems to portray a dreamland with the pastel colours that are used. Although because there is a fort around the kingdom this painting could be used to remind the army men what they are there for; to protect their country. The fort represents the army and the kingdom epitomises the country that they are fighting for.

3. What does the signifier and its signified form when combined?
It forms an insight to how people in the army live/think. Combining the army men and the painting has an extremely strong link making this a powerful photograph.

4. What codes are you using to interpret the signifiers in the picture?
The three codes to interpret signifiers are: Social codes, textual codes and interpretive codes. Social codes include body language, verbal languages fashion codes and behaviour rituals. Textual codes include scientific codes, aesthetic codes, art codes and mass media codes. Interpretive codes include ideological codes, perceptual codes.
For this particular image I believe it is mainly a social code however because of the painting featured it also uses parts of the textual code when referring to art codes.

 

1. Identify the signifiers in this picture?
The main signifier in this particular image would be David Cameron but only because of the status that he currently holds. David William Cameron is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Leader of the Conservative Party. He represents Witney as its Member of Parliament. Another signifier would be the grubby location and as juxtaposition to this the cleaning apparatus is another signifier in the photo.

2. What do they signify?
David Cameron represents the conservatives therefore portrays a favour in traditional views and values who opposes change. So this image could be seen a contradiction to what David is doing as typically he would not be doing this sort of labour. He is of a high status so the location he is in is an also a complete paradox. The place could signify the economy to which he wishes to ‘tidy up’ in a sense. It shows a side to the Prime Minister that we would not usually see which would make him seem more of an approachable man who wants the public to know that he is ‘one of us’. The fact that David is wearing a suit whilst cleaning up actually adds comedy value as it just looks bizarre. This signifies again that he is of a high status.

3.What does the signifier and it’s signified form?
Together they form an insight to how the parliament works on getting people to like them. It’s a competitive industry and everything must be done in order to become the most popular. Even if it means cleaning up trash. 

4. What codes are you using to interpret the signifiers in the picture?
The main codes to determine these signifiers is social coeds because of the politic value involved. Also interepretive code becuase of the ideological codes included. I found this image particularly difficult to pick out the signifiers meaning which may be down to my lack of knowledge on politics. 

 

1. Identify the signifiers in this picture?
The main signifier would be my cat as she takes up the majority of the photograph. The second signifier would be the water that she is drinking from the tap. She is a rebellious cat for doing this!

2. What do they signify?
Depending on what culture you’re from, a cat can have many significant symbols. According to ‘whats-your-symbol.com’ a cat’s symbolism is combined with resourcefulness and psychic power because of its sometimes unorthodox & “mysterious” behaviour. This is clearly represented in this photograph as Cleo insubordinatly drinks from the tap! Cats can also be a symbol of intelligence; not many pets will relate a tap with water.
Water’s general signifiers include purity, life and intuition. It doesn’t vary much from culture to culture mainly because water is so essential to our existence.

3. What does the signifier and its signified form when combined?
When combined it forms an image which has a clear subject matter of ‘life’. Overall, the symbol of water has a more important role despite being only being featured a bit in the photo. It shows how important water is to all living creatures.

4. What codes are you using to interpret the signifiers in the picture?
The three codes to interpret signifiers are: Social codes, textual codes and interpretive codes. Social codes include body language, verbal languages fashion codes and behaviour rituals. Textual codes include scientific codes, aesthetic codes, art codes and mass media codes. Interpretive codes include ideological codes, perceptual codes
Textual codes and interpretive codes were used to interpret the signifiers in this picture mainly because of how water is understood. Textual codes cover the literal need for water yet perceptual codes indicate the symbols of the cat and water together as a whole.