Semiotics and Genre

Notes from lesson on Thursday 14 September 2017

SEMIOTICS
Semiotics are signs and symbols to be put into a media context to mean something else…

We need to understand how meaning is conveyed…

“Ghost Ship” Opening

EVENT/SIGNS/USE	SEMIOTIC AND EFFECTS
Pink and handwritten fonts used without.	Provides a false sense of security to the audience. It seems like a Disney film. They sometimes also slice the screen.
An isolated empty ocean, only one ship.	Reminds audience on the Titanic. It uses intertextuality*. Audiences know that something is going wrong.
Pathetic Fallacy	Dark and dreary weather. A warning sign.
Lights	We can already see the wire that will kill everyone, and there isn’t a lot of lights on at the bottom of the ship. We are clocking the lights, and we have a sense of familiarity. We are getting used to the set first.
Sharp Slices	Below is very circular, but upstairs is very sharp. I.E. slicing through the flowers, which are innocent. FORESHADOWING: Girl is below the slice line.
All of the dissolves and a long camera angle.	Creates a relaxed atmosphere. Long shots and fading, nothing is going wrong. Dual meaning though. We can be lead down two routes.
The lady.	Wearing red, luring voice and people do as her say. She is a little seductive. This is important, as the next time we see red, it is the blood. Red gloves and chopping motions. A lot slices the screen very harshly. Gets the audience used to it.
The villain	He is extremely slow moving, and in the centre of the shot. The scarred face and eyebrows make a very mean look. Audiences know something is up.
The Girl	The girl is a cliché horror story event. Creating a sense of innocence, the importance is established.
Eyeline match	See someone’s eyes, and they show what they are looking at. The hands and the nod of the man tells that this is the signal to start the attack. THIS IS A CO-ORDINATED OPERATION. They want to steal the ship.
Music throughout the opening.	At the same time showing a normal scene, there is a slight sense of danger, especially as audiences know the name of the film.
Statue with no Limbs	A stone version of what we are going to see…
Preview scene of the wire at the start.	Looks innocent enough, but clearly, the camera position could show audiences that something is about to go on.
Engines ON	The first sign of impeding danger when the engines are started. Quick transitions on the wire, music change and colours go darker, it makes it tense. WHO WAS TURNING IT ON? There is close-up and more circles spinning.
Voice drowned out with cliché sound effects.	Furthermore, some speeds up, and others slow right down to make climax and tension. 12 different shots in a few seconds. Slow as the slicing occurs, close depth of focus to bring to attention. It’s visually slicing it. We are also the camera, showing through the captain. Now dripping in blood…
Silence after cutting	‘what has happened’? Slow motion and details to injury show viewers exactly what happened. The realisation becomes clear, the audio hurts. Prolonging Keep to Watching.
Repeated Scene After the Event (tableau)	Still moment showing the entire contrast of the event, red and contrast. This is a direct mirroring of earlier.
Relaxed atmosphere	Calm, slow music, helpful staff and encouraging to go to deck create a false sense of security.
Woman looking up	Shows viewers that something is about to happen.

*Meaning: where one film/text references another…