The Soprano's

Roland Barthes explains in Rhetoric of the Image how to interpret signs, symbols, and collective representations of life giving inanimate objects (such as this ad) higher value. As Barthes explains, an image immediately yields a first message whose substance is linguistic showing that pictures can say a thousand words just by seeing it (Barthes 270). What then do we see in the Soprano's ad? My eye sees a dark character in the man standing in the foreground on what is assumed to be a boat on water. He stands directly in front of a staple so unanimous with America and freedom, the Statue of Liberty. An image in any case helps to establish tone and feeling, and for the Soprano's this could not be more fitting-- a man in front of America, symbolizing power over America's rules and ways of thinking (a mob family with their own set rules).

The text in a scene on the other hand, as Barthes indicates sets common ground for us as viewers to interpret deeper meaning behind the photo itself. The words on the top of the Soprano's ad The final episodes, made in America identify purely and simply the elements of plot in the Soprano's (Barthes 274). Yes the final episodes were made in America by a Hollywood studio but looking deeper we find that the final episodes showcase the end of an era of the mob's reign over America.

Connecting the picture to the words is a crucial step in Barthes mind that lets us as the audience understand the complete whole of the image. By viewing the photo's Connotator's or signifier's any viewer is able to view parts of the whole image without exhaust[ing] the creator's true vision to create a seperate idea of their own (Barthes 274). Each person's interpretation will be different based on their moral views and background as stated in Film Art. This is why understanding that components of both the photo and words in combination give every viewer a unique interpretation that is neither right nor wrong when rationalized and validated.