Barthes’ Semiotic Analysis on

Paris Match No. 326 Cover

Dwiyanti Ade P. | Kartika Esa | Lulu Lutpiyah
First Order
(Denotative Meaning)
 First Order

Signifier Signified

The boy The boy has dark skin and a

face of African descent.

Clothing The uniform and the beret hat

indicate the clothing of a
soldier.
 First Order

Signifier Signified

Hand gesture The hand gesture is used as a

saluting gesture. Usually,
salute is done to flags and
people of higher rank (in the
military).

Magazine’s issue date The magazine was issued in

June 1955.
The lower right text The text tells the boy is from
Haute-Volta, or Upper Volta
(now Burkina Faso).
Second Order
(Connotative Meaning)
 Second Order

Signifier (Signified meaning Signified

from first order)

The boy has dark skin and a face The boy is a soldier in Burkina
of African descent. Faso.

The uniform and the beret hat Children in Upper Volta could
indicate the clothing of a soldier. register to the army in 1955.

The hand gesture is used as a Saluting means showing honor and

saluting gesture. Usually, people respect to the saluted person or
do salute to flags and people of object. In this case, the object
higher rank (in the military). saluted is most possibly the France
flag.
 Second Order
Signifier (Signified meaning
from first order)
The magazine was issued in
June 1955.
The text tells the boy is from
Haute-Volta, or Upper Volta
(now Burkina Faso).
Signified
The magazine was issued when
Upper Volta was still part of the
French Colony.
In 1955, the Upper Volta was
one of eight colonies that made
up the administrative block of
French West Africa designed to
facilitate French colonial
penetration into Africa.
The Myth
 The Myth

Signifier (Signified meaning from Signified

second order)

The boy soldier represents the people The French colony is in good terms
of the French Colony in West Africa. with its ruling country, France.

Children in Burkina Faso could register Originally the children of enlisted

to the army in 1955.
soldiers who also trained for warfare
during their fathers' enrolment, in
1884 the children were removed from
the regiment and military preparatory
schools were founded to provide an
education for the children of enlisted
men, who would become wards of the
state of the deaths of their fathers in
action.
 The Myth

Signifier (Signified meaning Signified

from second order)

Saluting means showing honor The people of Upper Volta, as

and respect to the saluted part of French Colony, respect
person or object. In this case, France and regard France as a
the object saluted is most country of higher position,
possibly the France flag. despite the colonialism.

The magazine was issued when Paris Match magazine wanted

Upper Volta was still part of the to show the people of France
French Colony. the greatness of their country.