Understanding Semiotics

A recent lecture on semiotics gave me an insight into how we understand things and how this could be useful for film...


Semiotics, the study of signs, is how we perceive perceive a form. We all understand that this is a circle: 

Semiotics breaks down to be the:

• study of meaning
• what we make of something
• how we read it

Semiotics is relevant in film, in that we need to consider how others will perceive things to ensure they are being perceived in the right way. Ferdinand de Saussure came up with signification in semiotics, where he identified the equation 'SIGNS = SIGNIFIER + SIGNIFIED', the signifier being the physical form and the signified being the mental concept. 

The picture of a cat is a more universal signifier than the word 'CAT'.

In semiotics I was thinking how so many things are perceived differently around the world, even a simple gesture such as a wave could be interpreted differently in particular countries due to difference in culture. Either where the film could be shown would have to be considered or even in the making of the film, certain contextual factors would effect the design. If I made a film based in India, would I have to consider how semiotics would be interpreted by indian people and adapt my film to their culture?

One way I thought of this was thinking back to an old HSBC advert where they discuss how meanings vary from one country to another, particularly that the number '8' was lucky in china. Maybe if I made a film based in China, contextual knowledge like this could be used to an advantage, possibly making the film more believable and genuine to its aim.

When I make films or any kind of media, whether it be concept art, models or designs, I would like to think that I would really improve my work by looking further into the semiotics of what I'm creating in comparison to its purpose.