Examine a photograph or production still

Findus Fraich’Frites: Grandchildren, 2

photo taken from http://adsoftheworld.com

This is an ads by  Findus Fraich’Frites titled Grandchildren.The tagline for this ad is Granny’s fries without the Granny.From the image above we can see an old woman hands touching a little girl.We can see the girl expression look bored with the old woman touching her face.By the tagline we can assume the old woman is the little girl grandmother.Findus Fraich Frites create a simple yet nice idea and execution.We can easily understand the meaning of the ad. 

Based on the image shown above, answer the following questions:

1. Who are the communicators?

2. What product or service is being advertised?

3. What are the demographic and psycho graphic characteristics of the audience at which the advertisement is aimed?

4. Which needs and gratifications are addressed in the advertisement?

5. Do the Non-verbal cues in the picture contribute to the non – verbal message? 

Film Appreciation - Assumptions and Contributions of Semiotics

Reading Characters

Have you watch the film called Titanic?Beside the sinking ship,this film is about a man and woman from different social backgrounds who meet and fall in love aboard the ship during the ill-fated maiden voyage of RMS Titanic.It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater.Jack is portrayed as a penniless artist who has toured various parts of the world.In this movie,he represent as third-class people who is poor and he going everywhere where fate brings him to stay.We can see this at early of the film where he won two tickets onto the Titanic in a poker game and travels as a third-class passenger with his friend .Although he is poor but he has a kind heart.Rose boards the RMS Titanic with her mother and fiance who she was force into an engagement by her mother.She represents as a woman who comes from a wealthy family and board to the ship as a first-class passenger.By her clothing in the movie we can see that Rose comes from high-class society. Jack is attracted to Rose at first sight and meets her when she attempts to jump off the stern of the ship. Things become complex when they are fall in love but the facts is,their love not ever be approve by Rose mother because of their different social background and also Rose is engaged to a wealthy man so her mother can maintain their high-class status after her father's death had left the family debt-ridden.

Connotations and Myths

What is connotations ?

Connotation is a secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its real meaning. Connotation need us to read between the lines which mean understand the real meaning of any specific word or phrase in a language.For example,the meaning of red color in traffic light mean to stop,yellow to prepare to stop and green to proceed.Connotation also make us understand when or where to stop by look at the road sign.

Connotation is used in many successful advertisements.  I think that it is a brilliant way to advertise.Below I have two clothing advertisements that have their own way to speak for their brands. The first advertisement is a Forever 21 advertisement and the second one is Dolce and Gabbana advertisement. 

Forever 21 ads

 What we can see in Forever 21 the way that the model acts and the clothes their wearing clearly this brands are specialty in teenagers clothing.Which mean also this brand are affordable because their targets are teens.

Dolce and Gabbana ads

Different from Forever 21,by look at Dolce and Gabbana ads clearly this brand are targeting for grown ups.The way models in this ads acts classy and wear fur coat and hat is a symbol of rich people.The ads are print in black and white which in Western fashion, black is considered stylish, sexy, elegant and powerful.It was very clear that this is a luxury brand.

Connotation are used to make us understand the differences between this two ads and how the brands talk to us through image in this ads.

From Connotation to Myth

Mythology or ideology are generally social, moral, and political belief systems that are culturally constructed..Myth subtly obscures, distorts and hides truth and reality which mean something we believe from when we are young until now was not exactly true.

For example,below is a obesity ads campaign.They used fast food for the image which represent the causes why kids nowadays had obesity.The message are clearly send to people that fast food are causes of the obesity to the kids.The truth is they’re fat because they eat too many calories and don’t exercise enough.

Wholesome foods take time to prepare time and most parents don’t have because they’re working longer and fast food is made them easy way to feed their kids.

Moreover,unlike previous generations, kids today aren’t allowed for good reason to go outside and play unsupervised, running around all over the place, burning calories until dinner time.