Media Studies A-Level
Signifier
What Signifier means in Media Studies A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Signifier
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Signifier in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: AQA
The physical, perceivable form of a sign: the marks, sounds, colours, shapes or words that a reader or viewer actually encounters.
Topics that use Signifier
- Semiotics (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Anchorage
- Applying semiotic terms to media products
- Audience interpretation
- Combination and sequence
- Context and cultural convention
- Cultural context
- Dominant signifier
- Icon
Using Signifier in the exam
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