Denotation and Connotation notes

Denotation and Connotation

They are media words.

Used when analysing a film or media text.

 
Denotation - What you see
Connotation - What it means, the meaning behind what you see, has a deeper

                       meaning
Represent– To represent, re-create an event or image with meaning

 

How to use these words


Denote:

  Signified, denotation, shown, portrays, illustrates
Connote:

  Represent, connotes, connotation, signifies, infers, suggests, implies, indicates

(Use a variety of vocabulary – you will lose marks if you use the same words again and again)

 

PDC Media Analysis

 
The ULTIMATE Media paragraph.

 
What do the following stand for?
P: Point
D: Denote
C: Connote

 
What’s the POINT?
-State what textual analysis section I am analysing

    e.g. Sound?, Mise-en-scene?, Cinematography?, Editing?

 

Example: Within the mise-en-scene the women are represented to be inferior to men


Denotation

What you see?
SPECIFIC example from the extract
You must use sound, mise-en-scene, editing and cinematography terms
Your example should be specifically from the extract
You should describe as though the examiner has never seen the extract

Examples:
-The cinematography denotes a close-up of a woman’s eye
-Denoted in this extract is the use of red within the mise-en-scene.
-Illustrated in the next clip is…
-The juxtaposition of the man and woman is portrayed within the editing


Connotation

What it means?
What is represented?
What do you think the deeper meaning is/what does the director want the audience to interpret?

Examples:
-The connotation of this close-up is…
-The colour red within the mise-en-scene signifies…
-The cross-cutting represents




Represent

What to look for?

Colours
Text
Foreground
Background
Facial expression
Objects


Example:

P: The image is of a singer/songwriter’s album
D: The image is of a close-up of  Ed Sheeron with his facial expression blank and has his eyes closed. He is also holding up his left hand to cover half of his face. On the left hand side of the image’s foreground that is very dark and slowly creeps over his face which contrasts to the right hand side as there is a grid formation of bright colours. In some areas of the image it is blurry and buffered.
C: The contrast in dark and bright colours gives the connotation that he might have used to be dull or has a dark background in his life, yet now he is more open and confident. The buffered areas could suggest that he is intoxicated.


Representing


-Representation is when you want to re-create an image
-Every representation is different
-People are different
-Personal lives
-Experiences
-Thoughts
-Each representation is as unique as the person that creates it