Denotation and Connotation (Water Aid)

Denotation

In the advert I see a young boy sat on a chair in front of a mud house, with text beside him that reads : "Dig toilets Not graves". There is a WaterAid logo in the top corner. The picture is mainly made up of browns and yellows in colour, with white and blue accents present throughout the advert. The boy is wearing a faded blue shirt.

Connotation / Analysis

The house is made of mud, indicating that the area that this photo was taken in is quite poor as they cannot build houses made of more stable materials like brick and mortar. The text is written in white to bring attention to it, as it contrasts the browns of the advert. The browns of the image indicate dirty and unhygienic living conditions, emphasising the dryness of the area he lives in, which further shows how important the water you donate to the community is. The boy's shirt is a faded blue, since blue is a colour that is most associated with water, the fact that his shirt is a faded blue shows that he is living with minimal water. The blue of his shirt also connotes sadness, which his facial expression further promotes, indicating that he is sad because of the conditions he has to live in. This makes us want to donate to the charity because we want to make his life better.


Written By Aishwarya Odedra