"Reading" Friends Through a Semiotic Analysis

     Stefan Herrmann argues that “we have all grown up learning to interpret the conventions of television in order to put a meaning to the images shown, and therefore regard the process of ‘reading’ television as ‘natural’.” After conducting a semiotic analysis of the episode "The One With the Rumour" of the television show Friends, I would agree with Hermann in concluding that we have learned to read television by decoding the dominant signs portrayed through each scene. This process may seem unconscious to an audience for the reason that the dominant signs portrayed through each scene have become instilled as common-sense within our society.

     As Herrmann categorizes signs into various social, technical, and representational codes, I will also do so in order to illustrate the ways in which Friends uses various signs to connote the meaning of their program to an audience.

     The “social codes” refer to the dress and gestures of the characters that signify specific meanings for the show. Friends is filled with "social codes" as this episode encompasses various signs signifying the characteristics of the characters, allowing an audience to easily "read" the characters. More...

     The social codes in Friends also reinforce the programs obsession with physical appearances. Friends uses its female characters as signs to signify an ideal body type to its audience. Ultimately, the appearances of the characters and the abundance of content devoted to discussing appearances can be viewed as signs which produce a certain meaning for Friends, illustrating how the show values appearances over intelligence. More

     The setting of the show can also be viewed as a social code which signifies the characteristics of the main characters. The show takes place in New York, which can be viewed as a sign connoting a particular lifestyle. New York is a city that is known for its energy and crazy lifestyle. By situating Friends in New York, their lifestyles also signify a highly-energetic lifestyle full of wild and crazy events.

     The episode "The One With the Rumour" specifically takes place within the vibrantly decorated apartment of the characters. The apartment reflects the wildness of New York. It is painted in bright colours; as there are green cabinets and red couches, which signify a young and hip atmosphere. The setting of Friends is ultimately a very important sign as it situates the audience within the lifestyle of the characters for half an hour, and makes one feel as they are part of the show.

     Signs are also combined into technical codes to produce a certain meaning for Friends. Primarily, the technical codes in Friends can be attributed the opening credits, featuring their theme song "I'll Be There For You." This music along with the humorous clips shown during the opening credits can be seen as signs connoting the genre of the program. The use of different camera angles used in Friends are also technical signs which illustrate conventions audiences have learned in order to "read" television. More...

     The various signs in Friends are also combined into representation codes in order to signify a particular meaning for the program. For example the actual dialogue in Friends is a sign which signifies the genre of the show as a situation comedy. The audience laughter in the back ground can also be viewed as a sign that reinforces the genre of the show. Furthermore, the representational codes can also be attributed to the various stereotypical signs used in Friends as they reflect traditional notions of masculinity and femininity within our culture. More...

     We have ultimately learned to "read" television by focusing on the dominant signs within each scene. The signs used within Friends can be easily decoded as they reinforce notions of an ideal beauty type and traditional stereotypes associated to masculinity and femininity held within our society. These signs allow audiences to believe that they are passive when watching television for the reason that the meanings associated to the signs have become viewed as natural within our society. I would conclude that watching television is actually an active process for the reason that only a viewer is able to produce meanings from a sign, even though the meanings that are derived from a given sign usually conform with the rest of society.

Vanessa Principe