Understanding Semiotics and Signifiers

We were tasked with analysing a poster for the first Pirates of the Caribbean poster, pictured bellow. The poster uses many of the standard conventions often found in such posters for action films, and just film posters in general.

the poster uses the placement of main characters to denote their role in the film. This is shown through the order that they are shown in: Jack Sparrow is at the front, as he is the main character in the film, and has the most screen time. The secondary characters are all behind him and have their faces smaller in comparison, showing that they are less important roles in the film.

There are many action related connotations in the poster, but the most prominent one is the weapons that they are holding. there are multiple weapons showed on the poster, but the main character is holding the most of them at once, further showing his important role in the film's story as the main character. The orange and yellow colours that dominate the poster also suggest danger and action, and along with the character's expressions, even anger.

The pirate ship shown in the lower portion of the poster has multiple connotations linked to it. The fact that it is against a yellow coloured background suggests danger, as well as shows the holes in it's sales, show the theme of pirates that runs throughout the film. This theme runs through many connotations, such as the bandanna that the main character wears. The scroll and text, and the skull and crossbones logo are iconic of pirates and are almost the strongest connotations in the poster.

The entire poster is filled with things related to the time period, as the clothes, weapons, hair styles and the pirate ship all point to this very strongly. It is a strong theme throughout the poster, and is shown in almost everything. The title font and scroll have periodical connotations relating to this, as does the pirate ship, as both are mainly used around the same era as when the film is set.