Semiotics

Image as Language

Semiotics: the 'science of sign systems'

Session 6

What does this mean?

Semiotics is the study of signs. This can range from just a simple toilet door sign with a male or female imposed all the way through to the media superimposing something to make it seem socially correct.

In simple terms, in language, the term 'shut it' can mean stop making noise or could mean close something. This is seen as being implied rather than literally. As a whole, it is all based on communicational behaviour. This can be through language, gestures or even fashion/clothing.

As a task, I am going to break down a music video and analyse it for its semiotics.

Pink - Stupid Girls

The video starts with a young girl watching TV. She is watching a programme on how to be proper/etiquette. An angel and devil appear on both shoulders, the angel being a normal, non-mainstream girls and the angel being plastic, perfect doll looking.

2nd scene - GIrl walking into clothing shop all dressed up, wearing sunglasses at night time. Is indicating that wearing sunglasses is to look more attractive but she stupidly walks into the glass door/window. 

3rd scene - Female president - showing that it is possible if you have ambition. 'Girls with ambition, thats what I want to see' (lyric)

4th scene - music video of a girl dancing on 50 Cent, trying to look sexy. This is indicating that dancing raunchy is attractive.

5th scene - Girl buys a small cute looking dog - trying to fit in with the whole Beverly Hills/Hollywood look. 

6th scene - Fake tan. being darker with bleach blonde hair is supposed to be more attractive. people around her don't think so.

7th scene - bowling alley - girl catches her boyfriend/date looking at another girl with revealing clothes, big breasts, skinny, long legs, make up etc. as opposed to 'pink' who is dressed with clothes covering herself. She then uses a secret button to expand her breasts to look more 'attractive'.

8th scene - Getting plastic surgery. Dooted lines marking out where the surgery will occur. This is in areas such as cheeks, breasts, stomach and a 'reconstruction' label on the front of her underwear.

9th scene - Goes back to Pink trying to express to girls that you don't need to fit in, you should do what you want as shes playing football with some guys. repeats the lyric 'Girls with ambition, thats what I want to see' 

10th scene - Girl runs down/drives into another woman but cares more about her make up, being on the phone and looking good in her convertible.

11th scene - She tries to get attention from a guy in the gym but doesn't get it. The guy goes to another girl that is dressed sexier (small top and pants). Pink then takes her top off, down to a small top to try and look  more attractive.

12th scene - In night club toilets, trying to throw up after eating/drinking too much. She then shouts 'I want to be skinny'. This is showing that some people go through bulimia to try and be skinny. And shows that being skinny is more attractive. This however should not be the case in reality as it can cause many physiological and physical problems for life.

13th scene - Sex video - making it seem like making a sex video is attractive. Mocking Paris Hiltons sex scandal. 

14th scene - Washing car in bare minimum clothes, bleach blonde hair, water everywhere etc. Like the Jessica Simpson video.

15th scene - Old woman or Young woman with wrinkles trying to look attractive/sexy by wearing all pink, with a pink car, bleach blonde hair, skinny etc. Closes up on her and shows you that she is unattractive and this is what could happen from too much plastic surgery and fake tan.

The music video ends back in the living room with the young girl watching TV. The angels are begging her to take their side. She looks down at a barbie doll (the mainstream) and an american football (different and natural exercise). The girl then takes the angels side and plays football.  

My analysis

Most of the scenes in this video are trying to show how the media have made the skinny, blonde, big breasted, long legged, plastic girls into the ambition for every girl. Pink expresses that she thinks its 'stupid' and doesn't want to be a part of it. On her part, it is a very good ethical message to try and pass on. Some of the lyrics read that girls should have great ambition in life to do something great such as becoming president or being in sports. these are both highly respected roles that should be something people to aspire to be instead of a perfect little tart that just needs to look attractive, which has in-fact become the non-attractive in my opinion.