MIGRAIN: Semiotics blog task

PART 1

1 - The meanings the audience encouraged to take about the two main characters is that they are both conveying a sense of joy when they play the music instrument. When the man then complains about the noise, The boys look sad. Which portrays to the audience that they are limited to joy. 

Additionally, the props such as the way they are dressed such as outfits being worn out which conveys they are from a low class family. While physical experiences such as the boys being around 15-16 years old, facial expressions such as annoyed and depressed.

The boy's actions, such as rushing to grab the musical instrument, emphasize both their resourcefulness and vulnerability, highlighting their lower status and the importance of small pleasures in their lives.

The cinematography and camera work is seen as being black and white/ dull contrast the music to interest and engage the audience. While on the other hand the close up shots highlights the boys' faces to increase the amount of tension and what would happen next.

2 - At the end of the flim emphasises de saussure belief helps because it helps polysemic and open to interpretation and open interpretation as people may have many beliefs on. Such as having cultural differences

PART 2

1 - signifier and signified

2 - polysemy is when the same signifier has multiple possible meanings

3 - the idea of some meanings are socially constructed and over time once they become widely known and accepted, they start to feel obvious. They’re no longer questioned, even though they were originally constructed by society.

4 - Hermeneutic (enigma) code – mysteries or unexplained elements that raise questions.

      Proairetic (action) code – sequential actions that suggest what happens next.

      Semantic code – elements that carry deeper connotative meaning

      Symbolic code – use of symbols (e.g., colours, settings, objects) to represent meanings.

      Cultural code – references to external knowledge (e.g., history, science, culture).

5 - the enigma code is in the mystery of the time loop and the symbolic code appears when the fruit in the deli is shown rotting, symbolising death

PART 3

Icon: Red Rose

Index: thorns on a rose

Symbol: Represents romantic relationships and love

2 - Icons and indexes are so important because they shape how audiences interpret meaning and connect with what they see. For example icons are a type of sign that resemble what the represent such as a red heart for love.

While on the other hand indexes are signs that have a direct link to what they signify such as smoke conveying fire.

3 - Global brands often avoid using symbols in their advertising and marketing because symbols rely on culture specific meanings that don’t always translate well across countries. 

4 - 

The burger as a signifier of satisfaction or meat-eaters, but for vegetarians the same sign signifies animal cruelty, environmental damage, or unhealthy food. This demonstrates Saussure’s belief in polysemy as the same sign can generate different meanings depending on the audience’s cultural background and values. 

Overall, the advert fails because the producer overlooked how icons (the burger), indexes (meat as “delicious”), and symbols (the slogan) would be interpreted differently across audiences. Instead of being persuasive, it undermines its message by mocking the very group it attempts to address.

This poster successfully uses icons and symbols to communicate a universal message. The Coca-Cola logo itself is an instantly recognisable icon. it signifies the drink without needing translation. The red background also helps with Coca-Cola’s global branding, since the colour is consistently associated with the product.

The text “We All Understand Coca-Cola” reinforces the idea that, unlike language which changes across cultures, the brand is universally understood through its visual signs. This makes the message accessible globally, transcending linguistic barriers.

By relying on the iconic logo, symbolic colour, and minimal wording, Coca-Cola shows how a brand can create a message that is understood across the world demonstrating the power of semiotics in advertising.