Large Writing Project 2: What's Behind the Hollywood Sign(s)
A Semiotic Analysis
Put the Popcorn Down and Grab a Pen
Interpreting the Signs of American Film
So far we have had quite a bit of practice reading about semiotic interpretations of film and interacting with these semiotic readings in a variety of ways. This assignment asks that you put yourself into the role of cultural critic, engage with the theoretical framework provided by one or more of our authors, then provide a powerful abductive reading of the signs associated with specific films and/or shows.
As our authors say, the "key to the matter lies in looking not at what the movie says about itself but at what it does" (Maasik 445). This assignment asks you to read the signs in order to locate and explain what the popularity of a show or movie reveals about the audience's values, attitudes, hopes, fears, biases, and desires at particular historical moments. The popularity of a film or show can act as a mirror, reflecting our values back to us. What do we see when we look into those mirrors?
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"[Y]ou should suspend your personal feelings and aesthetic judgements about your subject. As with any semiotic analysis, your goal is to interpret the cultural significance of your topic, not give it a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down" (446).