Write a semiotic analysis comparing 2 similar images. The analysis should be 250-400 words and you must attempt to use key semiotic language.
- Cover of AIZ, October 1932, John Heartfield
- Hurrah, the butter is finished! 1935, John Heartfield
John Heartfield created these two images during the war and each show a great use of signs. The cover image uses money as a sign to signify not only wealth but also the signifier 'millions'. It is being used as an indexical sign. As the money is behind Hitler and it conotes power and wealth, it is no suprise that the text translates as "I've got millions standing behind me". The text is acting as a supporting message to the image. The other text on this image translates as "The real meaning of the Hiltler salute" and "The little man asks for big gifts". Hitler here denotes a little man and the money conotes big gifts.
In 'Hurrah, the butter is finished!' The text again backs up the imagery, but there are more conotations and denotations we can gain from this montage. Hermann Goering was a German polititian and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He is quoted as saying "Iron has always made a nation strong, butter and lard have only made the people fat". The many signs in this image really back up this quote. The people are saying "Hurrah, the butter is finished!" The image implies next that they can start on the iron to make them strong, which is exactally what they are doing. The swastika used as wallpaperand the portrait of Hiltler denote a living environment which is very comfortable with the Nazi Party. Connotations depend on the rules or conventions that the reader has learnt, it is only through these learnt rules that we can make sense of the true meaning of this image. We associate the swastika and Hitler as a massive evil in the history of our world. Boththese signs are iconic ans have a direct link to what was happening at the time.
