Semiotics

Semiotics is an attempt to create a scientific study of sign systems and their role in the construction and reconstruction of meaning in media texts.

The three types of semiotics:
Symbolic- A sign that represents an object or concept solely by the agreement of the people who use it.
Iconic- Signs which have a connection with what is bein signified but however is not
Indexical- Signs which have direct connection with what is being signified.

Below is a semiotics analysis of an magazine front page:

There are a several specific uses of semiotics used through this magazine front cover. The shot used in this magazine is a close-up shot taken at eye level. The subject  fills majority of this frame allowing the audience to see the detail of the subjects face. This shot allows emotion to be created from the subject. The angle of the camera allows the camera and subject to be the same level making the audience feel equal to the subject. This shottype, in semiotics would be called Iconic as it represents a shocked face, but however could easilly represent a differnet meaning, for example he could be estatic.

There are various indexical, iconic and symbolic signs used to construct and reconstruct the image. An symbolic sign on the subject is the tattoo across his arms and so on.