Barthes Semiotics

Roland Barthes and Semiotics 

Roland Barthes was one of the first structuralist theorists of culture. His work is about studying signs and symbols because they usually all have to be interpenetrated for people to see the meaning behind it. Therefore, his theory has taught that we can give different symbols and sign different meaning so people could understand what the costumes or props in a scene are trying to say about the setting of a scene.

Semiotics is about how we have automatic actions or thoughts which we don't consciously decide to do. Meaning we can make decisions instantly if we are used to because they have become cultural messages because we automatically know what we need to do since these ideas have become conventions as we have the ability to understand them as soon as we see them. A common example of this is Traffic light which we understand automatically without having to think about which colour what does. This is a good example of how cultural convention since we were told what these different colours meaning ever since we were children. Therefore, as we know about certain things unconsciously they can be used against us to teach us about what different signs and symbols mean.

Roland Barthes theory suggest that everyone is semiotic, this is because humans are always unconsciously trying to give signs around them meanings. This is because sounds are not just visual thinks but can also be aural or sonic signs, e.g. police sirens.

Semiotics in Media

Semiotics in media is refers to giving meaning to thinks such as myth, written or spoken words and symbols.

There are three different types of signs when it comes to semiotics, the first one i am going to talk about is iconic signs; This usually look at icons and how they are signs which show similarity in appearance. Another sign is Indexicial, these signs usually have a cause and effect relationship between the signs and its meaning. The Third sign symbolic, these typically have a conventional link.