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?