Semiotics - Denotation and Connotation

Connotation and Denotation are two principal methods of describing media texts. Connotation refers to the wide array of positive and negative associations that most things naturally carry with them, whereas denotation is the precise, literal definition of something.

These two definitions can prove very useful when analysing a media text. It is advised to possibly make a denotation/connotation grid separating two areas. The first area (denotation) would simply identify what is happening in the mise en scene specifically, for example there is cut to a close up of a cigarette lighter. The second area (connotation) would dictate what meaning or message we could draw from that such as the lighter will later become important to the plot and the close up is foreshadowing this event.

Due to us growing up in a generation entirely surrounded by media, there are certain objects or scenarios that society has projected that we naturally identify and associate with a certain meaning. It is been trained into our phycology and we may not even realise it. It must be said that the majority of these are negative such as knives, blood and guns. But it is even more specific than this. The type of gun used will immediately communicate what genre of film it is. This means that connotation can be a tool for a filmmaker to establish something within the film without actually having to say so in dialogue.

Applying this method helps us to look at media with logic and there are few better ways of breaking down a text to decipher meaning.