PERF104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Semiotics, Jargon, Paralanguage
PERF104 Lecture Notes Wednesday 8th March 2017
Semiotics of Theatre
Semiotics is essentially symbols
- People ake judgeets aout others all the tie o thigs like people’s lothes,
skin colour, if they smell.
- This is using semiotics.
A regular theatre goer should be able to go to the theatre and not be completely taken by
surprise because of the codes of performance. Someone who is less experienced, might be a
bit shocked.
Sometimes the codes of theatre can be blurred. E.g. if two audience members begin fighting
iiously, the audiee a eoe ofused eause they do’t ko that those audiee
members are actually actors.
We can understand a performance if we have knowledge of theatre semiotics.
Communication:
1. Source – the people responsible for creating the performance, actors, director,
backstage crew, playwright etc.
2. Transmitter – the things these people use to transmit the message to the
performance. Actors use their voices; costume people use make up and costumes.
Technical people use lights. Musicians use music.
3. Signal – for example, movement of an arm. Is sent through channels.
4. Channels – to hear a voice uses soundwaves. To see a movement uses light waves.
5. Noise – can interrupt the performance and the communication. Is something that
is’t supposed to happe, like a late arrial, a ator forgets their lies, tehial
difficulties.
6. Receiver – receives the signals sent through the channels.
7. Destination – the audience member. Where the signals end up.
This is not a one-way communication. The person receiving the communication can
contribute to the performance. The spectator can contribute by
- Laughing
- Crying
- Applauding
- Commenting
- Answering questions
- Looking attentive
- Being open to what is happening
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
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