Semiotics - Inception (2010)

Once again Christopher Nolan has managed to create a film that makes us question the human mind. Inception is similar to Momentum because it makes the audience pay closer attention since the storyline doesn't follow the traditional beginning, middle and end. It also doesn't follows Todorov's equilibrium theory in which he says: 'An “ideal” narrative begins with a stable situation which is disturbed by some power or force. There results a state of disequilibrium; by the action of a force directed in the opposite direction, the equilibrium is re-established; the second equilibrium is similar to the first, but the two are never identical.’ 

However, even though Inception is similar with momentum, they are very different. One reason for this is that Nolan eases or guides the audience into the story instead of plunging them straight into it like he did with the Momentum. He does this by using a familiar plot line. The protagonist is a wanted man wrongly accused of his wife's murder now he must assemble a group of people who will help him in his journey to extract a CEO's top secret information. However, he is continuously haunted by the memories of his wife and thus fails or gets distracted at the most important times. 

Another difference, is the fact that the audience is allowed to identify with the main character, Cobb. the viewers can see that he is having extreme difficulty moving on from his wife's death and to some extent he even blames himself for it. By doing this, Nolan makes the audience hope for his success and to finally see his reuniting with his children who's faces he cannot remember. Here Nolan targets the audiences' maternal, caring and soft side.

However, the third and perhaps the most noticeable difference is the fact that semiotics play a much more important role in the film than before. The main signifier in the movie is Cobb's 'anchor' a solif object which links him to the real world. In his case the anchor is a small spinning top. It used to belong to his deceased wife and it could signify his guilt or perhaps even his regeret at ever introducing her to the world of extractions. 

I personally really enjoyed this film and the idea that dreams are places where you store your ideas and deepest secrets. Even though the story was easier to follow than people said, it was still interesting and presented a new way in which to view dreams. Nolan managed to create not only a new concept of entering someone's subconscious but he also created a new world.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This is a novel I studied for my English Literature A Level. I must admit that my first impression of it was that it would be completely boring. My prediction was right for the first few chapters, however, what followed was that Martel took his readers on an unforgettable journey.

This coming-of-age novel follows Pi, a young boy, as he struggles to survive 227 days at sea with a Bengal tiger as a companion. This novel explores religion, identity, spirituality and relationships between humans and animals. The thing that made this novel so interesting was not only the way it was written but also the way it was structured. The reader is introduced to three versions of Pi. The first being the adult and grown up version of Pi who graduated from university but also started his own family. He is the overall narrator of the story. Secondly, we are introduced to the Pi who lived in Pondicherry, India before he moved to Canada. During this period, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency on India which meant that citizens practically lost their rights. Here we learn that Pi has dedicated his life to three different religions and he also loves science which is interesting since religion and science are polar opposites. Finally, we are introduced to the Pi who is stranded at sea with Richard Parker (the tiger) and other animals who end up killing each other.


The way in which this book is written makes the readers believe that it is an autobiography, when in reality it is nothing more than a fantasy adventure novel. Throughout the novel or journey, the readers continuously question Pi's mentality as he stumbles across an island that eats humans and is inhabited by meerkats. Martel makes the readers truly appreciate the luxuries that they might be surrounded by because, even though we know that this is nothing more than a story, the way it is written in makes the reader forget what reality is.
However, the most amazing part of the whole novel is the ending. Martel allows the reader to choose between two different endings. He allows the reader to either choose reality or insanity which ultimately allowed Pi to survive. I chose the latter because the way the author wrote the novel made it so realistic and he planned and explained the ways Pi survived so clearly that it made the reader believe that it would actually be possible to survive on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading because it truly does take the reader on a journey that questions our beliefs and views of religion and belief. It questions reality and sanity.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

This is one of those paintings that you see everywhere, whether it's in films or cartoons. My first impression of it was that it was slightly intimidating and that it really emphasises the passing of time. Dali made sure to use dull yet slightly bright colours. 'The persistence of memory' is an interesting name to give this painting because the way the pocket watches are melting just conveys the message that time passes by slowly yet quickly at the same time. It also made me realise that the time in our memory is eternal/immortal and never ending. Our special and most precious moments in life are forever frozen in time in our memories. In my opinion, Dali makes time seem meaningless in this painting. Time is something that every human being doesn't have enough of; it is fleeting. However, this painting is gives off a laid back and, perhaps, even sluggish feeling as if to say: 'I have enough time to waste, so why not kick back and relax' and this is precisely why this painting is one of my favourites, because it makes its readers feel calm and it allows us to simply forget about the time for a while. It allows us a sense of escapism.

Sainte Victoire by Paul Cezanne

This image was introduced to me by my University lecturer. To be honest at first glance, it doesn't leave an impression of any sort, however, at closer inspection, you realise that a lot of work has gone into it. The use of vivid green and the use of darker tones at the front  make the woodlands stand out, whilst the use of yellow indicated either villages or mountain land. Cezanne has created a wonderful balance using different shapes, brush strokes and colours and overall it gives the painting a serene and peaceful feeling. You could, however, interpret this in another way, for example, the calm before a storm. I say this because of the use of darker colours surrounding Mont Sainte-Victoire. The different brush strokes don't allow the reader to keep their eyes steady, they are continuously roaming over the painting. This technique makes the looming mountain in the background stand out even more.

Whilst writing this blog my opinion of the painting gradually changed. at first I thought that it was simply a painting that gave its reader a calm feeling. Now, however, I think that Cezanne tried to convey a number of different feelings and perhaps even messages. Ironically, this painting was created because Cezanne saw this scenery everyday from his house and so it became the subject of a number of his paintings.