CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SIGNS: A MULTIMODAL ANALYSIS OF PAKISTANI DRAMA PARIZAAD

Abstract

Semiotics, a field of Linguistics, is employed to study various modes of communication. It is a science with multiple layers of meaning embedded in different forms and objects. In this research, the primary focus is on how the development of a character is scrutinized by using semiotic strategies to communicate meaning. The goal of this study is to identify the development of the character through various modes and how these multi-modes help in the participation of meaning. The current study implemented a descriptive qualitative method using a multimodal theoretical framework by Gunther Kress and Van Leeuwen (1990) with purposive sampling. A multimodal incorporates various modes of communication including visual, spoken, spatial, aural etc. A renowned Pakistani drama named ‘Parizaad’ released in 2021 is selected as primary data source. The purpose of the research work is to identify semiotic signs and to examine social and cultural implications of semiotic elements to portray character development. In the light of the objectives of the study and with the help of multimodal theory, findings highlight diversity is purely evident in Parizaad’s character, ranging from social inequality to economic inequality and societal hypocrisy. Different social and cultural modes can also be witnessed as how money, class and financial equality impact cultural implications, personal relationships and values. From multimode perspective, various aspects are analysed. A drama contains culturally and socially rich symbolic elements such as if the protagonist is taken for instance, hero’s distinctive placement and attire in the cover art highlight his individuality and marginal status in comparison to others, while the supporting characters’ varying expressions and poses reveal how societal pressures shape his experiences.