Signing With A Sword: Signature Sign Patterns of Semiotics as Connotative Constructs Applied to Chinese Martial Arts Cinema

Abstract

This thesis proposes a new semiotic approach to analyzing films based on their sign patterns, or “signatures”, which attributes the sign pattern to a key influence in the production of the film. By using these signatures to identify the key influence in the film’s production, signature sign patterns can be found and applied in conjunction with previous semiotic approaches to create a holistic semiotic approach. Through historical analysis and film form signifiers, this new technique is used to identify and interpret the four major signatures in Chinese martial arts films: the Shaw Brothers, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and the New Wave.