Semiotics/Meaning

Today in class we discussed semiotics and meaning. There are 2 parts that make up signs; 1) signifer, 2) signified. The signifer is the thing that is real and the signified are the mental concepts. For example, in class last week we watched a Gap commercial with Madonna and Missy Eliot. We discussed how Madonna was made to be on top and better then Missy Elliot. And in one shot Madonna was wearing a chain on the left side of her pants, which gives the meaning that she is more dominant. It just exists that Madonna had a chain on the left side but we put a concept to it that the left side is more dominant then the right side. And by her wearing it on the left is creating the affect that she is more important. The signification of everything is the meaning. There are 3 levels of meaning. 1) denotation, 2) connotation, and 3) ideology. They all are different ways people think. We went on to discuss the meaning of reading and the different types of reading. This class was very informative and helped me to better understand semiotics.