A Semiotic Analysis of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) Film by Using Roland Barthes Theory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30872/992wjs64Abstract
Semiotics serves as an instrument to reveal the identity of an entity and demonstrate how visual and auditory elements construct meaning, convey messages, shape characters, establish atmospheres, and represent cultural and ideological values; furthermore, this film constructs a high-level intellectual warfare that serves not only as a plot driver, but as a visual metaphor addressing industrialization and the fragility of sociopolitical control. This research aims to identify and analyze how signs are represented in the film Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). The study applies Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory to uncover the layers of meaning embedded in the film’s objects and events, specifically focusing on denotation, connotation, and myth. This research utilizes a descriptive qualitative method. The primary data source is the film itself, from which scenes and objects were selected based on their narrative centrality. The results of this research show that these signs do not merely function as aesthetic narrative devices; they are semiotic mechanisms used to construct deeper ideological meanings. The red strings map signifies Knowledge; the orchestration of war signifies Industrialization; and the chess match signifies Control. Ultimately, what can be underlined in this research is that the film utilizes these signs to establish a core theme of intellectual dominance, portraying the victory of rationality and strategic observation over manufactured systemic chaos.Downloads
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