A Study on Semiotics of Costumes in Film -"Pretty Woman" Garry Marshall (1990)-

영화 속 의상기호에 관한 연구 -개리 마샬의 "귀여운 여인"(1990)을 중심으로-

  • Bae, Sang-Joon (Department of Media Communication, Sungshin University)
  • 배성준 (성신여자대학교 미디어커뮤니케이션학과)
  • Received : 2012.05.30
  • Accepted : 2012.08.10
  • Published : 2012.09.30

Abstract

The costumes as an expression system in film are inserted intentionally for a particular purpose. Costumes in film, namely the cinematic dress code, and that in reality are dissimilar in meaning structure. The costumes in film perform a role of a complicated eye-catcher in correlation with the other filmic factors. But the previous studies on the costumes in film are focused on the keywords 'fashion style', 'fashion trend', or 'PPL (product placement)'. In film studies, however, the costumes should be observed from the point of view as semiosis, not as fashion, in other words, from the angle of symbol, icon and index. And the meaning and the process of the communication, which that produce, should be pointed out. It could expose, that costumes play one of the key roles for the developing of narratives and the creating of characters in film. Therefore, this study's aim is to examine the semiosis of costumes in film and to analyse the dress code, dress plot, and dress message in (1990) by Garry Marshall. But this work does not try to indicate the problems of the film-semiotics or to intensify the concept of the semiotic terminology. Thus, this study attempts to approach the theme of costumes in film from the perspective of the semiosis and its meaning process. With this, it has been proved, that semiotic systems are in hiding beyond the conventional forms of cinematic costumes and its natural harmony with characters.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : 성신여자대학교