Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall
Structuralist-semiotic film analysis posits that films can be understood as a system of signs with structural integrity. In this form of analysis, which focuses on concepts such as codes, signs, denotations and connotations, metaphor and metonymy, an approach is taken that will reveal the ideology a...
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Marmara University
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi |
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| Online Access: | https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4441301 |
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| author | Mikail Boz |
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| author_sort | Mikail Boz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Structuralist-semiotic film analysis posits that films can be understood as a system of signs with structural integrity. In this form of analysis, which focuses on concepts such as codes, signs, denotations and connotations, metaphor and metonymy, an approach is taken that will reveal the ideology and myths created in the deeper layers of the films. The narrative conventions and genre codes that are inherent to the cinematic medium provide a foundation for a systematic analysis that considers intertextuality, particularly within the science fiction genre. In this context, the film Total Recall (2012), directed by Len Wiseman, can be considered a remake and adaptation. As a post-apocalyptic text in which the world is transformed and renewed by a catastrophe, it offers insights into the future of humanity in the present era. Qualitative descriptive genre analysis was integrated into structuralist-semiotic narrative analysis to examine the film in question. The film was selected as a purposive sample for the study and was analyzed through the headings of the narrative elements of cinema. Consequently, the film addresses several contemporary issues, including the distress caused by modern life, the crisis in the family unit between spouses, the surveillance society and the desire for novelty. These are discussed in the context of the film, which presents a relatively liberal discourse on matters such as the ideal structure of the family and methods of distress management. Additionally, the film attempts to establish a more balanced relationship between exploiter and exploited, moving towards a more democratic and egalitarian model. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-63f71c14ef71403b93de243b2a2f2640 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2630-6220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Marmara University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi |
| spelling | doaj-art-63f71c14ef71403b93de243b2a2f26402025-08-20T03:40:37ZengMarmara UniversityTürkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi2630-62202025-06-014717318910.17829/turcom.16016643Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total RecallMikail Boz0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4276-1521Isparta Uygulamalı Bilimler ÜniversitesiStructuralist-semiotic film analysis posits that films can be understood as a system of signs with structural integrity. In this form of analysis, which focuses on concepts such as codes, signs, denotations and connotations, metaphor and metonymy, an approach is taken that will reveal the ideology and myths created in the deeper layers of the films. The narrative conventions and genre codes that are inherent to the cinematic medium provide a foundation for a systematic analysis that considers intertextuality, particularly within the science fiction genre. In this context, the film Total Recall (2012), directed by Len Wiseman, can be considered a remake and adaptation. As a post-apocalyptic text in which the world is transformed and renewed by a catastrophe, it offers insights into the future of humanity in the present era. Qualitative descriptive genre analysis was integrated into structuralist-semiotic narrative analysis to examine the film in question. The film was selected as a purposive sample for the study and was analyzed through the headings of the narrative elements of cinema. Consequently, the film addresses several contemporary issues, including the distress caused by modern life, the crisis in the family unit between spouses, the surveillance society and the desire for novelty. These are discussed in the context of the film, which presents a relatively liberal discourse on matters such as the ideal structure of the family and methods of distress management. Additionally, the film attempts to establish a more balanced relationship between exploiter and exploited, moving towards a more democratic and egalitarian model.https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4441301bilimkurguyapısalcılıkgöstergebilimmetinlerarasılıktürscience fictionstructuralismsemioticsintertextualitygenre |
| spellingShingle | Mikail Boz Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall Türkiye İletişim Araştırmaları Dergisi bilimkurgu yapısalcılık göstergebilim metinlerarasılık tür science fiction structuralism semiotics intertextuality genre |
| title | Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall |
| title_full | Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall |
| title_fullStr | Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall |
| title_full_unstemmed | Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall |
| title_short | Post-Apocalyptic Images in Cinema: A Structural-Semiotic Narrative Analysis of Len Wiseman's Total Recall |
| title_sort | post apocalyptic images in cinema a structural semiotic narrative analysis of len wiseman s total recall |
| topic | bilimkurgu yapısalcılık göstergebilim metinlerarasılık tür science fiction structuralism semiotics intertextuality genre |
| url | https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/4441301 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mikailboz postapocalypticimagesincinemaastructuralsemioticnarrativeanalysisoflenwisemanstotalrecall |