Semiotic Analysis of 'The Boy in Striped Pajamas' DVD Cover.
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Maranatha Christian University
ABSTRACT
Skripsi ini berisi analisis DVD cover dari film The Boy in Striped Pajamas melalui teori Semiotics Saussure. Ada begitu banyak signifier yang dapat kita temukan di dalam cover DVD ini dan setiao signifier memiliki arti yang berbeda, dan sinergi dari setiao signifier ini yang akan membawa kita kepada dua konsep besar, yang pertama adalah konsep pemisahan dan yang kedua adalah konsep persahabatan. Dari analisis yang dilakukan kta dapat menemukan bahwa pada zaman itu (1930s) terutama di Eropa, masalah pemisahan ini menjadi masalah utama, dan salah satu kejadian yang paling terkenal adalah ketika Nazi yang merasa ras nya sebagai ras yang superior, menyisihkan ras lain, pada zaman itu adalah para Yahudi, dan kejadian ini dikenal dengan nama holocaust. Tapi sebenarnya ada konsep lain yang tertangkap di tengah pemisahan tersebut. Yaitu konsep persahabatan. Skripsi ini akan menjelaskan bagaimana teori Semiotics yang digagas oleh Saussure dapat menjelaskan kedua konsep tersebut.
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Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... i
ABSTRACT ... ii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ... 1
Background of Study ... 1
Statement of The Problem ... 4
Purpose of The Study ... 4
Method of Research ... 4
Organization of The Thesis ... 4
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK... 6
CHAPTER THREE: Semiotic Analysis of The Boy in Striped Pajamas ... 10
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION ... 23
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 27
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Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of The Study
My thesis topic is Semiotic analysis of “The Boy in Striped Pajamas” DVD’s cover. I am interested in analysing the DVD cover because according to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914798/awards, this film was the best European movie in 2008. “The Boy in Striped Pajamas” was written by an Irish novelist, John Boyne in 2006. According to http://www.johnboyne.com/, it was the bestselling book of the year in Spain in 2007 and 2008. It has also reached the top rank on the New York Times bestseller list, as well as in the UK, Ireland, Australia, France, Denmark and German.
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Maranatha Christian University In 2008, Mark Herman made this story into movie together with David Heyman as the producer. This movie was released for the first time in The United Kingdom on September 12, 2008.
According to www.efm-berlinale.de, Europe is the “second home” for film industries after Hollywood (par. 2). European movies are famous for their criticizing genre. Most of European movies are made on purpose and the purpose is to criticize the government, history, or social life (par. 5).
My data is in the form of picture and I believe that a picture has the function to communicate ideas to people. Accoding to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, picture is considered as imagery, that is “pictures, photographs, or object that represent an idea” (975). According to www.eleance.com, Lauren Harris said that, “...., Covers are important to make the buyer can receive a better knowledge of the film's plot. The story line is the key point to a movie, so people will want to figure the basics of the plot out quick, ....” (par. 2). Based on thequotation, it is clear that a DVD cover has the function to represent the story of the movie.
I have observed a lot of movie stores and find that covers are the media to show the story of the movies. For example, if the movie genre is action, usually there are pictures of muscular guys firing guns, flying and burning cars, fire, helicopter, etc. The more attractive the covers are, the more people will be interested in the movies. Thus, the covers not only have the function to communicate with the people in the movie stores of the movies are about, but also to attract people to buy the DVD.
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Maranatha Christian University In writing my thesis, I choose semiotics as my approach to analyze the DVD cover. According to Chandler, in semiotics everything can be considered as a sign (par. 3), the DVD cover that I am analysing is also a sign. The linguistic approach that deals with signs is semiotics. Specifically, the semiotic theory that I apply is Saussure’s theory because I just analyze the cover in the first order level. I believe that in the cover, there is a concept that serves as the red line of why the cover is created as such. By applying the theory I try to reveal the concept of the cover.
The concept in the cover also has a function to communicate the author’s ideas, perception, philosophies or even beliefs. Thus, the significance of my study is to make the readers realize that a picture from a DVD cover has a meaning, which is not only to communicate what the movie is about, but also the beliefs and philosophy about certain things. People tend to look at the DVD cover as only a piece of art but actually it may have more meaning than what is shown. From my analysis I hope that people will realize that a cover has an important role, it is not just a piece of art, but deeper than that it shows author’s ideas, perceptions or beliefs.
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Maranatha Christian University 1.2 The Statement of The Problems
In this thesis, I would like to analyze three problems : 1. What are signifiers in the cover?
2. What are the signifieds?
3. How do the signifiers and signified reflect the concept of segregation?
1.3 Purpose of The Study In this thesis I intend:
1. To show the signifiers of the cover. 2. To show the signifieds of the cover
3. To show the concept of segregation through the signifiers and signifieds.
1.4 Method of Research
The method applied is library research. The steps that I took on this research were first found and read Saussure’s theory in the library and in the Internet. Then I gathered the supporting theories to do the analysis. Finally, I analyzed the cover according to the theories that I got and wrote my analysis.
1.5 Organization of The Thesis
The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is the introduction which contains the Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of the Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. The second chapter is Theoretical Framework. The data analysis is
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Maranatha Christian University presented in chapter Three. The fourth chapter is the Conclusion. The thesis ends with the Bibliography and Appendix.
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CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
The last chapter of this paper contains the resume of the analysis and some concluding points. Based on the previous chapter thare are two main concept that we can get from The Boy in Striped Pajamas DVD cover. The first one is the concept of segregation and the second one is the concept of friendship between the two boys in the cover. the two concepts have a portion to create a meaningful message. All the signifier in the cover makes a great synergy to show both of the concepts.
As we can see from the cover that there are two kinds of signifier, the first one is visual signifier and the second one is textual signifier. The visual sign is dominant in this cover and there are some signifier that we can analyzed, the picture of barbed-wire fence with its steel pole and big bolt, the ground or the setting, the two boys and the clouds.
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Maranatha Christian University From the signifier we can get that the fence has a dominant role to create a concept of segregation. Moreover, the second concept which is the concept of friendly we can see from the gesture and the eye contact between the two boys.
The other signifier also support the concept of segregation. We can see from the different types of ground, the first one on the right there are green grass but on the left there is only a barren land without plant lives there. In terms of ground we can see that the author wants to emphasize that there is a segregation between the two boys.
Another visual signifier that has an important portion n this cover is the colour that is used in the cover especially the colour of the cloud. The colour tells us that there is a powerful thing that segregate the two boys, and if we relate it with the moment in 1930s that the Germans is one of the powerful ruler at that time and the Jews is the prisoner in Germany. The colour tells us also that the ruler in that time is so powerful, has a great authority and they also rich. But, the next layer is about purity and cleanliness. As mentioned in the last chapter that the boys represent purity and cleanliness because the closest layer with them is the that layer. If we compare the colour, the ruler that represent powerful, authority and richness has bigger portion than the other layer. We can see that the reason why the segregation happen from the colour of the clouds.
The textual signifier in the cover tells us that the main character in the movie is the boy in the right which is wearing an outfit similar to pajamas. Although the textual signifier just focused to the boy on the right, but the cover
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Maranatha Christian University shows us that there are two boys there. The relaton between the text and the cover, give us a clear thought that the concept of segregation is stronger.
In addition, we know from the last chapter that the two boys come from different race that in that time, consider not as a friend. In that time the Germans that was represented by the boy on the right feels that they are superior than the Jews that was represented by the boy on the left. Based on this fact we can see that the concept of segregation is so strong in this cover because the existence of the two boys.
Thus, even the two boys are different and their conutry is not a friend, there is another thing that we can get from both of them which is the concept of friendly. Even they are segregated because of a reason that maybe they don not know, but there is still a friendly atmosphere betwen them, from the way they gaze, the gesture that they are not standing, but they are sitting face to face.
Judging from the relation between the signifier and the signified in the cover, I conclude that the cover give a clear thought that segregation is the issue at that time. From the sign system we can see that the ruler at that time segregate the two boys in a lot of ways, but even they body are segregated, they still become a friend, because we know that children will not think about differences between them, they just want to be everyone’s friend.
For further researchers, I may recommend other DVD cover that comes from this era, because we can see that the concept is same. Especially if the movies take place in Europe than the concept will be the same.because segregatoin is the main issue in that time in Europe. By using this kind of
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Maranatha Christian University drawing, we can see that the concept is come from both the visual and the textual signifier. Therefore a complete research of movies in that time will give us the main problem that happened.
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Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Data
Barthes, Roland. “Elements of Semiology”. Trans. Annete Lavers and Colin
Smith. New York: Hill & Wang, 2000
Chandler, Daniel. “Semiotics: The Basic”, London: Routledge, 2004
Secondary Data
Answer Corporations. “Brown Barren Field”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2012
Bellis, Mary. “Barbed Wire”. N.p. N.d. 19 October 2013
Chedar. “Types of Bolt”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 October 2013
Cherry, Kendra. “Colour Psychology.” How Colours Impact Moods, Feelings,
And Behaviors, N.p. N.d. web. 25 February 2012
Cities360. “Prison” N.p. N.d. 17 October 2013
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Maranatha Christian University Etrailer. “Big Bolts”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 October 2013
Etsy. Inc. “Vintage 1930’s Mens Pajamas”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2012
Frater, Jamie. “Strangers or Not”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2013
Hall, Lina. “1920’s Steel Using”, N.p. N.d. web. 17 September 2012
Harrier, Gregory. “Power behind Action”, N.p. N.d. web. 21 October 2013
Huth. “Our History”, N.p. N.d. web. 19 September 2013
Jewish, London Cultural Centre. “Holocaust”, N.p. N.d. web. 9 September 2012
Justpoles. “Steel Using”. N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2012
Life, Nature. “Fertile and Infertile Ground”. N.p. N.d. web. 19 October 2013
Parenting. “Children Behaviours”. N.p. N.d. web. 20 October 2013
Tradekey. “Use of Fence”, N.p. N.d. web. 17 October 2013
Vermiar, Ian. “Body Language Signs: Eyes Part 1.” N.p. N.d. web. 25 February
2012
Chart, Zen. “Vintage 1930’s Child Pajamas” Simplicity 2598C”. N.p. N.d. web.
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Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER FOUR
CONCLUSION
The last chapter of this paper contains the resume of the analysis and some concluding points. Based on the previous chapter thare are two main concept that we can get from The Boy in Striped Pajamas DVD cover. The first one is the concept of segregation and the second one is the concept of friendship between the two boys in the cover. the two concepts have a portion to create a meaningful message. All the signifier in the cover makes a great synergy to show both of the concepts.
As we can see from the cover that there are two kinds of signifier, the first one is visual signifier and the second one is textual signifier. The visual sign is dominant in this cover and there are some signifier that we can analyzed, the picture of barbed-wire fence with its steel pole and big bolt, the ground or the setting, the two boys and the clouds.
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24
Maranatha Christian University
From the signifier we can get that the fence has a dominant role to create a concept of segregation. Moreover, the second concept which is the concept of friendly we can see from the gesture and the eye contact between the two boys.
The other signifier also support the concept of segregation. We can see from the different types of ground, the first one on the right there are green grass but on the left there is only a barren land without plant lives there. In terms of ground we can see that the author wants to emphasize that there is a segregation between the two boys.
Another visual signifier that has an important portion n this cover is the colour that is used in the cover especially the colour of the cloud. The colour tells us that there is a powerful thing that segregate the two boys, and if we relate it with the moment in 1930s that the Germans is one of the powerful ruler at that time and the Jews is the prisoner in Germany. The colour tells us also that the ruler in that time is so powerful, has a great authority and they also rich. But, the next layer is about purity and cleanliness. As mentioned in the last chapter that the boys represent purity and cleanliness because the closest layer with them is the that layer. If we compare the colour, the ruler that represent powerful, authority and richness has bigger portion than the other layer. We can see that the reason why the segregation happen from the colour of the clouds.
The textual signifier in the cover tells us that the main character in the movie is the boy in the right which is wearing an outfit similar to pajamas. Although the textual signifier just focused to the boy on the right, but the cover
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25
Maranatha Christian University
shows us that there are two boys there. The relaton between the text and the cover, give us a clear thought that the concept of segregation is stronger.
In addition, we know from the last chapter that the two boys come from different race that in that time, consider not as a friend. In that time the Germans that was represented by the boy on the right feels that they are superior than the Jews that was represented by the boy on the left. Based on this fact we can see that the concept of segregation is so strong in this cover because the existence of the two boys.
Thus, even the two boys are different and their conutry is not a friend, there is another thing that we can get from both of them which is the concept of friendly. Even they are segregated because of a reason that maybe they don not know, but there is still a friendly atmosphere betwen them, from the way they gaze, the gesture that they are not standing, but they are sitting face to face.
Judging from the relation between the signifier and the signified in the cover, I conclude that the cover give a clear thought that segregation is the issue at that time. From the sign system we can see that the ruler at that time segregate the two boys in a lot of ways, but even they body are segregated, they still become a friend, because we know that children will not think about differences between them, they just want to be everyone’s friend.
For further researchers, I may recommend other DVD cover that comes from this era, because we can see that the concept is same. Especially if the movies take place in Europe than the concept will be the same.because segregatoin is the main issue in that time in Europe. By using this kind of
(4)
26
Maranatha Christian University
drawing, we can see that the concept is come from both the visual and the textual signifier. Therefore a complete research of movies in that time will give us the main problem that happened.
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27
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Data
Barthes, Roland. “Elements of Semiology”. Trans. Annete Lavers and Colin
Smith. New York: Hill & Wang, 2000
Chandler, Daniel. “Semiotics: The Basic”, London: Routledge, 2004
Secondary Data
Answer Corporations. “Brown Barren Field”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2012
Bellis, Mary. “Barbed Wire”. N.p. N.d. 19 October 2013
Chedar. “Types of Bolt”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 October 2013
Cherry, Kendra. “Colour Psychology.” How Colours Impact Moods, Feelings,
And Behaviors, N.p. N.d. web. 25 February 2012
Cities360. “Prison” N.p. N.d. 17 October 2013
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Maranatha Christian University
Etrailer. “Big Bolts”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 October 2013
Etsy. Inc. “Vintage 1930’s Mens Pajamas”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2012
Frater, Jamie. “Strangers or Not”, N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2013
Hall, Lina. “1920’s Steel Using”, N.p. N.d. web. 17 September 2012
Harrier, Gregory. “Power behind Action”, N.p. N.d. web. 21 October 2013
Huth. “Our History”, N.p. N.d. web. 19 September 2013
Jewish, London Cultural Centre. “Holocaust”, N.p. N.d. web. 9 September 2012
Justpoles. “Steel Using”. N.p. N.d. web. 18 September 2012
Life, Nature. “Fertile and Infertile Ground”. N.p. N.d. web. 19 October 2013
Parenting. “Children Behaviours”. N.p. N.d. web. 20 October 2013
Tradekey. “Use of Fence”, N.p. N.d. web. 17 October 2013
Vermiar, Ian. “Body Language Signs: Eyes Part 1.” N.p. N.d. web. 25 February
2012
Chart, Zen. “Vintage 1930’s Child Pajamas” Simplicity 2598C”. N.p. N.d. web.