Psycho

One lesson that we did was 'Semiotics'. This lesson was the study of signs and symbols. In order to analyse a film we needed to study literal and potential meanings. We had two options:  

• Signifier- Denotation- literal. e.g. red rose, flower itself is the signifier.
• Signified- Connotations- Potential. e.g. red rose signifies love, sorrow, passion, labour party, England rugby team etc.

 In this course we looked at the 1960 horror film 'psycho' directed by Alfred Hitchcock. We watched the scene where a lady is packing her bag to flee somewhere. She keeps on looking at a big wad of money on her bed during the whole scene. this wad of money is the signifier and it signifies that she has stolen the money or it is not hers etc.

The most famous part of 'Psycho' is in the picture displayed above. The same lady is taking a shower and then a killer comes up behind her and lifts a knife to stab her. The knife is the signifier and it signifies death and violence. it shows that this lady will be killed.