Semiotics: An Introduction

1. Semiotics: An Introduction Known as the Science of Language. Semiotics is an approach to cultural analysis derived from structural linguistics and the Greek word for ‘Semion’, involving the study of sign systems and how meaning is made within a culture and society. – How we attach a certain meaning to a different thing. E.g. in the country: Turkey, a head nod means no and a shake of the head, from left to right means yes.

2. How is Semiotics Used? • Semiotics is used by identifying the many different elements within signs, in order to understand what the sign means and where it came from to understand it further. We identify semiotics everyday, but we may not know that we are. It is this uncontrollable unconscious that we detect as we see: warnings, sale signs, etc. • Semiotics is apart of the graphics background, when thinking about how signs are put together: They know what makes them noticeable, in order to lure in the target demographics.

3. Examples of Semiotics • Amnesia and remember me are the chosen cases in which we have decided to write our semiotics presentation about. An action and a horror. Denotations: Amnesia • The rose and the woman compare in the way of remembrance; roses can be interpreted in many ways such as remembering the fallen/deceased as well as been seen as a love gesture, the title for the amnesia game signifies the loss of who you are, where you are and what surrounds you. • The other title is called remember me therefore linking to the game cover of amnesia, whereas they also oppose each other. It is hinted that the real and fake memories are represented by the light within the box art. • The water makes the flower grow the more the flower grows the more happens and there will be more happiness therefore the memory would come back (metaphorically speaking), also relate to a metaphor as an oasis in a desert: a light to the lost at the end of the tunnel. The light illuminates the rose as if the heavens were opening a cure for the lost memories to show something that has meaning and is of great importance. Remember Me: • France setting • Graphical images around her head • A figure of a woman • Text font font is disfigured and easy to read – very noticeable • Robotic arm = futuristic setting • Showing some mystery with the head turn and standing in a position, as if she doesn’t know who we are. • She is also disfigured = fading away • Connotations • Amnesia: • Rain = sorrow/cold/sad. Cobbles can represent time/past. The water flows around the obstacles (cobbles). • The cover Amnesia on the front of the Amnesia game box is white (as in a blank mind and hints towards no memories), also has a drop shadow as well as jagged edges That show distortion. • Remember Me: • Orange: Warm • Black and White Contrast: White = blank mind (no memories), in France, purity and clean and black = dark and scary, no existence.

4. Conclusion Semiotics can be seen within everyday lives and influence the way pictures and the products that consist of the images and the semiotics in question. When thinking about the images previously shown, they are fine examples of showing what the games are about, where we see the contrasts when comparing them: Amnesia is the dark side where the memories are unable to be see, as well in remember me, but the remember me box art is evidence that the memories may come back, where the memories that show in the form of graphics around her head, but also can be thought as her memories are leaving permanently, although this title, unless the title is a command to someone dear/ Whereas the Amnesia game image is revealing the memories are still there, but are cluttered and can’t find a way out. This is evident within rose and the water trying to escape around the cobble stones.