An analysis of a movie poster for The Dark Knight, showing examples of how connotations are affected by various features.

1. Connotations and Denotations of
The Dark Knight
movie poster

2. The Joker’s clenched fist connotes
anger and frustration. When
combined with his focused stare,
the audience might assume that the
Joker is angry or frustrated with
someone in the distance.

3. The Joker’s stance connotes
tenseness and fear, possibly of
himself or, more likely, the Batman

4. The vibrant colours of Joker’s
clothes juxtaposes the miserable
greys and blues of the background,
giving connotations of
indecisiveness in his character

5. The gun he holds has connotations
of violence and aggression, and in
a city setting this could also
connote terror and fear in the
people that the audience would
assume are living there

6. The slightly low camera angle
connotes superiority and power in
the Joker as the audience is lower
than him, giving the impression he
is dangerous/bad, or someone to
be feared

7. The bright blue glow effect around
the Batman symbol connotes hope,
liberation and freedom, and
contrasts with the darkness of the
joker to show the clear difference in
the two characters

8. Destruction around the Joker
provides connotations that the joker
is dangers and destructive, and
therefore once again someone to
be feared and avoided, making him
appear more threatening. It also
denotes destruction.

9. A natural frame has been created
around the joker using the rubble in
the foreground, focusing the
audience on him in particular so
connotations can be found

10. A natural frame has been created
around the joker using the rubble in
the foreground, focusing the
audience on him in particular so
connotations can be found