Semiotics

Semiotics - the study of sign systems - allow us to construct media texts to understand how things have been created. 
A sign is the smallest element of meaning. They can be merged together to create a larger unit of meaning for the audience, these are known as codes, which can be decoded/interpreted. 

TEXT - signifier - Rose
OBJECT - signified - a rose
DENOTATION -  the sign denotes, the literal meaning of a sign
CONNOTATION - the sign connotes, the interpreted meaning

Polysemic:  this refers to the capacity of all signs; have more than one meaning.

Polysemy therefore applies that many signs will be ironic/ ideixical/ symbolic.