Task 3- Semiotic Analysis

‘THE Sun’ is highlighted in red and white, unlike any other part of the page, this connotes that this is the title of the publication as it is the first part we see when we look at it. Also, ‘THE Sun’ is at the top, left-hand corner of the front page, which is how we read in western culture; top to bottom, left to right. What one also connotes is that this is a tabloid newspaper due to the red italic title, much like similar newspapers like the Mirror. Tabloids have a target audience of the working class masses and so lowercase letters are used in the title as they are connoted to be ‘friendlier’.

Tabloids stereotypically use sensational headlines; this example is no different. One connotes ‘GOTCHA’ to be the headline as one denotes it is uppercase, bold and the largest text on the page. It also is situated above much smaller text, which connotes as the story of the headline. What is interesting about the headline ‘GOTCHA’ is that it covers the page horizontally: from one side to another. This connotes that all of the text below is in relation to this headline, regardless of whether it is or not. The word ‘GOTCHA’ is a slang word; a word used by the working classes. This is key to the audience as they can relate to the language of the newspaper.

Using the word ‘GOTCHA’ as a headline at the time would have given readers an insight into what the article would be about. The war with Argentina would have been a topic of conversation to everyone at that time with increased news coverage. This is a hook for selling more newspapers. The audience know what they’re buying before they’ve actually read it. However, ‘GOTCHA’ could be seen as tasteless when one is made aware that lives have been lost.

The tabloids have a habit of perpetuating the notion of ‘them’ and ‘us’. One connotes this when reading ‘Our Lads sink gunboat and hole cruiser’. One connotes that if there is an ‘our’ there must also be an opposite, which in this case is ‘theirs’. This is an attempt rouse patriotic feelings in the audience. The word 'our' is used consistently through the article for this same reason.

This use of slang is denoted throughout the article with words such as 'lads' and 'Argies'. 'Argies' we connote as a reference to Argentinians. The abbreviation of Argentinians to 'Argies' gives connotations of racism and also that of a faceless group of people. By that I mean there are connotations that it is 'them' and not a group of individual human beings. To humanise the opposition when writing about sinking gun boats give the realisation of the loss of human life, regardless of which side they were fighting for. Patriotism can often be confused with racism and xenophobia.

There are two photographs in the article. Each photograph shows a boat. From reading ‘Our lads sink gunboat and hole cruiser’ we connote that the photographs are of the ‘gunboat’ and the ‘hole cruiser’ as
we recognise those words to be types of boat. This is called anchorage.

Under each photograph there is a heading of ‘SUNK’ and “CRIPPLED’. The words are in uppercase and in white with black background. This connotes that the images in the photographs are what have been ‘SUNK’ and ‘CRIPPLED’. As the words stand out more due to being uppercase and highlighted the words give connotations of aggressiveness and conflict, much like the headline. These are not pleasant words.

The text next to these headings gives denotes that the patrol boat was ‘sunk by missiles from Royal Navy helicopters after first opening fire on our lads’. One reads in the main story text that the other ‘had been asking for it all day’. This supported the myth that the sinking of the two ships was fair and just.

‘MAJOR’ is uppercase, bold and underlined. This connotes that the word ‘major’ further in the text is of greater importance. In context, ‘our Navy high command were certain that it would have played a [MAJOR] part in any battle to retain the Falklands. This is also adding to the myth that it’s destruction by ‘us’ was just.

As one reads down to the written story, ‘THE NAVY’ is written in uppercase and bold. The rest of the sentence is also in bold. This has connotations that ‘THE NAVY’ is of importance and of power. When grouped with the description of the ‘Argies’ as ‘on their knees’ this gives connotations of superiority to ‘us’.

The word ‘WALLOP’ is used twice in the text and is bold, uppercase and is larger than the rest of the words in the story. This makes the words ‘WALLOP’ stand out. The fact that the word is used twice and that previously the words ‘double punch’ were used give aggressive connotations of fighting. The word ‘WALLOP’ is perceived as a comical word and can be seen in television programmes such as Batman in the 1970’s; a time where the readers of this newspaper would have been of the age to watch Batman. The audience makes this connection. The use of humorous words such as ‘WALLOP’ is very light-hearted and playful in respect to the topic of war.