semiotics/ image analysis

This task is to look a a films poster and talk about denotations, connotations and analyse the poster. 

Denotations, (what we see when we look at the image). 
Bright colours
Nostalgic 'Star Wars' logo
New characters: Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren BB8
Classic characters: Han solo, princess Leia, R2D2, C3PO, Chewbacca and storm troopers.
Weapons: lightsabers and guns
Space ships: X-wings, Imperial star destroyers and the Millennium Falcon.
Stormtrooper army
The Galaxy
Explosions
The cast
The release date

Connotations, (what we understand from this image and any meanings it may have)
The poster has a bright effect to give a futuristic feel to the setting of the film.
The nostalgic 'Star Wars' logo, makes people instantly recognise it is part of the franchise.
New characters, show upcoming talented actors which are going to be in the film.
Classic Characters, mean that fan favourites will be returning for another movie.
Weapons, tell the audience that the film will be action packed and full of fighting.
Spaceships,, give insight to the setting and show there will be traveling in space.
Stormtrooper army, shows that the stormtroopers will return and will be in the film.
The Galaxy, shows that the film will take place all over space.
Explosions, show that the film will be full of CGI and loud noises.
The cast, shows the actors who will feature in the film.
The release date, shows when the film is coming out.

For posters and advertising there are different ways of reading it.
Preferred Reading - this is how the creator will want you to view the piece of media text.
Oppositional Reading - This is where the preferred reading is the total opposite to how you ready the media text.
Negotiated reading - This is where you see the good and the bad in the piece of media text.

Analysis of the movie poster
This movie poster is jam packed with action, from spaceships flying from the background to the foreground, like they are coming out of the page. To the army of stormtroopers that are aliened at the bottom. Several key characters are depicted in the poster, all looking ready for battle and each holding their chosen weapon. You can tell the film will be filled to the brim with non stop action. In the back ground you can clearly see the nights sky which suggests the film will take place in space, but also the famous "star wars" logo instantly shows that the film is set in space.