semiotics of sin city

A Semiotic Analysis of

Group 4Krittika

ChakrabortyAbhay Mehta

Neeraj NarayananSundernarayan V

Dilip ReddyKunj Sanghvi

Sachin Sharma

Sin City: An overview• The graphic novel is about the interplay of

crime, passion, love, betrayal, corruption, power and justice in a fictitious place called Basin City. It portrays the seamy side of life in this Western city in the US and the lives of the men and women who struggle to survive in it. With stark black and white imagery and excellent artwork, Sin City is one of the most loved graphic novels in the world, the tremendous success of its onscreen adaptation bearing testimony to this fact.

The Broad Storyline • The Geography: The climate is hot and arid, although

some parts are shown to be heavily wooded. A major river runs through the city, which has an extensive waterfront. Desert lizards and palm trees are common, while tar pits, desert areas, mountain ranges and flat farmland make up the landscape around the city

• The History: During the California Gold Rush, the Roark family "imported" a large number of attractive women to keep the miners happy, making a fortune and turning a struggling mining camp into a thriving, bustling city. Over the years, as the Roark family migrated into other areas of business and power, these women ended up forming the district of Old Town, the prostitute quarter of the city where they rule with absolute authority. In addition, the people charged with governing the city, most of them from the Roark line, remained in power for generations, running it as they saw fit.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin_City

Langue

Language of Comics

Source: Scott McCloud’s ‘Understanding Comics’

The Artwork

Source: Scott McCloud’s ‘Understanding Comics’

Concept of Closure• Observing partially but perceiving as

a whole is called Closure

Source: Scott McCloud’s ‘Understanding Comics’

Parole

The Language of Sin City

The Artwork

Closure

The Code

• Protagonists – – White and male – Portrayed as anti-heroes.– Characterized as mercenaries and assassins– Violent men with a sense of justice, modern ‘Robin Hoods’– Gallant and incorruptible

• Women – – Femme fatales– Objects of desire– Used to violence– Abused and abusive

• Violence – – Graphic– Extensive use of guns, knives, hands – Use of closure to imply pain

• Tone of the Language – – Laconic– Cynical– Sinister – Black humor

Signifier and Signified

The Hero• Signifier

– White male– In extremely good physical condition– Rough hewn, rugged looks– Well-versed with weapons and fighting techniques– Respectful to women– Incorruptible

• Signified – Very masculine – Points at past military experience– Heroic– A ray of hope amid corruption and injustice

The Anti-Hero• Signifier – White male– Very muscular– Rugged, almost ugly looks– Very violent– Has his own sense of justice

• Signified – A weapon in himself– Criminal background– Does not hesitate to kill– Survivor – Judge, jury and executioner

The Woman• Signifier

– Very beautiful– Vulnerable– Suffering– Averse to violence

• Signified – Damsel in distress– Trying to survive in an untamed land– Looking for protection– Feminine

The Prostitute• Signifier – Very beautiful– Voluptuous– Used to violence–Harsh and untamed

• Signified – Loss of innocence– A part of the corruption– Surviving on her own terms– Can fight and protect herself

Image Acostique• The name Sin City– Derived from the actual Basin City– Invokes a particular kind of imagery

• Corruption• Violence• Debauchery • Degradation

– Looks at the seamy side of urban life• Accentuated by black and white graphics• Exaggerated characterizations • Larger than life happenings

The Content

Nakedness • looks at everything in black and white• stark imagery, stark portrayals• ‘lays bare’ the truth – physical nakedness vs. metaphorical nakedness

Portrayal of prostitutes as automatic weapon wielding avengers: Lashing out against oppression and exploitation

In Conclusion• Sin City is a stark, albeit exaggerated

look at the vices plaguing society and the men and women who struggle to survive in it

• Power, money and flesh corrupt, though there is always hope for a better future

• Good wins over evil though the line between what exactly is right and wrong is blurred

• The ‘pulp fiction’ noir style and the black and white graphics have enthralled readers for almost two decades and continues to be a favorite among comic book enthusiasts

Thank You