Semiotics Analysis of "Crimson Horror" Dr. Who

The viewers can see what greater social questions are being asked about the world we live in.

And this could keep going and going...

How do we Identify the most Significant Signs?

Look at each sign in relation to the Point of View and Narration and which ones help the core ideas presented by the Point of View and Narration.

Now to look at each sign individually...

Looking at both Sweetville and a modern gated community the viewer can see a resemblance between the two.

But let's look at the details....

Tract Homes and gated communities are homes that are produced as fast as they can to accomadate a growing population.

People that choose to live in gated communities or tract homes want peace and quiet, safety, and want to live in a clean community.

That is what Sweetville advertises an escape from the "moral decay" of society.

Many Different images depict

eyes in "Crimson Horror"...

Ada Mrs. Gillyflower's daughter is blind. According to Mrs. Gillyflower Ada is not the perfection needed for Sweetville because she is blind.

The elusive and dreadful Mr. Sweet. Two large black eyes and the body of a slug with claws like a lobster is the base of Mrs.Gillyweed's master plan.

An Octogram: supposed to depict the last thing the deceased saw before they died.

For Ada, her blindness represents her innocence and uninvolvement in Mrs. Gillyweed's plan.

When people ask someone something

and want to truth they tell them to

"look me in the eye and say it". By looking into the depths of someone's eyes one is supposed to find truth.

Looking into Mr.Sweet's eyes the viewer can not see anything they are solid black.

The truth of what Sweetville is is only found in the eyes of the deceased.

The similarities between Sweetville and a factory are uncanny. The smoke stacks, the windows, and the exterior are all very similar.

The idea of Mass Production of perfection is what Mrs. Gillyweed is trying to achieve.

What do all these signs mean together?

The Creators of Doctor Who are raising the question to the audience that this era of mass production and consumption and pursuit of perfection is not true perfection. Because through an attempt to achieve perfection one becomes normal and another stereotype.

The writers are trying to get their viewers to think about what they are doing, watching, and consuming so it does not reach the point of Sweetville.

A semiotic analysis of "Crimson Horror" brings to the light social questions that the writers are trying to raise to the viewers. This is achievable for Dr. Who because they have a very active fan base that does not merely watch Dr. Who to watch it. Their fanbase watches for mental and visual stimulation.

Works Consulted

Arning, Chris. "Semiotics: A Winning Formula?."International Journal Of Market Research 51.3 (2009): 289-291. Business Source Premier. Web. 1 Dec. 2013

Tseng, Chiao-I. "Analysing Characters' Interactions In Filmic Text: A Functional Semiotic Approach." Social Semiotics 23.5 (2013): 587-605. Academic Search Premier. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.

Sjarbaini, Larissa, and René j. Jorna. "Semiotics And Knowledge Management (KM): A Theoretical And Empirical Approach." Semiotica 2013.195 (2013): 169-196. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 13 Dec. 2013

Bezemer, Jeff, and Diane Mavers. "Multimodal Transcription As Academic Practice: A Social Semiotic Perspective." International Journal Of Social Research Methodology 14.3 (2011): 191-206. Business Source Premier. Web. 13 Dec. 2013

Most Significant Signs...

• Sweetville
• Eyes
• Factory

Sweetville

What do eyes usually symbolize?

Eyes

• Life
• Beauty
• Truth
• Soul

Factories

In Conclusion,

First Step:

Identify Signs

Looking at Crimson Horror Through a Semiotic analysis what greater knowledge can the audience achieve?

• Yorkshire, Victorian England
• Crimson
• Circular Windows
• Red Flowers
• Octogram
• Eyes
• Sweetville
• Moral Decay
• Blind
• Gold
• Doors
• Town
• Fainting
• Perfection
• Manners
• Monster
• Green
• Venom
• Factory
• Gas Lamps
• Secrets

Semiotics Analysis of "Crimson Horror" Dr. Who