Sunday 15 September 2013

Media Homework - Connotations And Denotations

Connotations And Denotations

http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/music/50-coolest-album-covers

Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

Denotations:
  • Fiery
  • Demon
  • Skeletal
  • Giant
  • Lightning
  • Blood Title
  • Red
  • Storm
  • Magic
Connotations:
  • Fire means destruction
  • The demon and the skeleton (possibly the "Iron Maiden") are staring at you which makes them scarier.
  • There is some sort of storm going on in the background showing that the music will probably be rock.
  • All the elements in the picture make it loud and energetic, meaning, again, that the music it is for is probably rock.

Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

Denotations:
  • Young Man
  • Vest / T-shirt
  • Jeans
  • Patterned Belt
  • Back to Camera
  • Red Cloth in the Back Pocket
Connotations:

  • Sex Symbol
  • 1990's American Stereo-Type
  • The back to the camera means it could be anyone.

The Strokes - Is This It

Denotations:
  • Naked Woman
  • Black Glove
  • Black and White
Connotations:
  • Sex Symbol
  • Model

Queen - Queen II

Denotations:
  • Shadow
  • All Four Members In Shadow
  • Only Heads Visible
  • Gothic Title Font
  • Bottom Member Has Crossed His Arms
  • Eyes looking down nearly closed
Connotations:
  • Shadow and title may show Queen as a Gothic band.
  • The shadow suggests mystery.

Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

Denotations:
  • Hills / Mountains
  • Black and White
  • Lines
  • Sound Meter? / Electrocardiogram?
  • Simple
Connotations:
  • Black and white, mountains - extremes
  • Sounds and hills go up and down - Life's ups and downs.
Pink Floyd - Wish You Where Here

Denotations:
  • Meeting
  • Man on Fire
  • Air Hangers / Warehouses
  • Suits
  • Sunny Day
  • No Awareness of the Fire
Connotations:
  • Ignorance
  • Money / Business over life
  • Business associates
The Who - Who's Next?

Denotations:
  • Concrete Pillar
  • Rubbish Dump?
  • Unclear Faces
  • Looking Away From Camera
  • Wasted Landscape
Connotations:
  • Harsh world
  • Rubbish problems
  • Ashamed
  • Get on with it
  • Humanised

Soulwax - Nite Versions

Denotations:
  • Pink Stripes
  • Brain Teasing
  • Very Barely Visible Title
Connotations:
  • The music is probably going to be pop
  • Confused?
  • Unclear?

Blondie - Parallel Lines

Denotations:
  • Men in Suits
  • Woman In Front Looks Cross
  • Black and White Lines in Background
  • 1960's to 1980's Look
  • The Men Have Odd Shoes
Connotation:
  • Black and white symbolises contrast.

Miles Davis - Tutu

Denotations:
  • Black and White
  • Shadow
  • Face Visible
  • Title African or Referring to a Skirt?
  • Eyes Strait
  • African American
  • Pupils Are Big
Connotations:
  • Reference to the Slave Trade?
  • Defiance
  • Big pupils suggest hope/happiness?

1 comment:

  1. Drew some very nice connotations here, give them some detail and relate them to the artist and you have got it!

    Green

    ReplyDelete