Semiotics involves the study and interpretation of signs within society. This can also be applied to popular culture and television. The signifier is the core element of semiotics. The image that is visible is the signified. The Sopranos opening sequence uses the symbols of class, city and violence in order to show the character’s power.
This opening sequence conveys Tony Soprano’s power through the use of the city as a symbol. Tony Soprano is seen driving from New York City towards New Jersey at the start of the opening scene. We know he is in NYC by the fact that the Twin Towers are shown and also the Statue of Liberty. Tony snatches at the toll ticket as he drives into NJ. Tony’s rage at paying the poll suggests that he doesn’t like being in New York. Instead, he wants to go home to New Jersey. We see his poor infrastructure as he drives along New Jersey. The bridges and factories are also visible. Tony passes a restaurant and a market that sells meat, which is a symbol of the New Jersey food people like to eat. New York City is represented by the symbols of New Jersey and New York City. This shows the significance of where Tony’s house is.
The opening sequence also includes a class symbol. As Tony enters the suburbs we notice that tall buildings have been replaced by houses. We can tell Tony has entered suburbia when two lanes merge into one. This is the painted road and the transition from two lanes to one. It is this sign that tells us that Tony has entered a small town, or suburb. The roads in small towns and suburbs are usually one lane, with fewer lanes than the streets of a city. Suburbia is a place where many middle-class or upper-class people live. Many families relocate to the suburbs so that they can raise their children in quality schools and have a family. Tony pulls up to a gated drive that leads to the mansion at the end of the first sequence. The mansion signifies a wealthy family who is able to afford a luxury home. Tony wears a gold band and rings as he drives in the first sequence. Gold jewelry is a sign of a wealthy man who can afford to buy expensive items. The cigar he smokes while driving is a sign of someone who has money and is successful. We usually see cigars smoked by wealthy people to indicate their success and wealth. The mansions, suburbs, jewelry, gold, and cigars all symbolize the upper class.
In the final scene, the Alabama 3’s song “Woke Up This Morning”, which is played in the entire opening sequence, is a powerful symbol of violence. The song’s lyrics, “When You Woke Up This Morning, You Got Your Gun”, are repeated many times. This line signifies violence. From this, we can deduce that Tony, the protagonist, is a man of violence. We can infer that he believed he had a special kind of power from birth when he heard the lyrics “mama’s said you’d chosen one.” We can infer from the lyric, “you’re a one in a thousand you’ve gotta burn to shine,” that our main character has been taught that to be successful you must overcome many obstacles. You also have to be prepared to put in the work to achieve success.
Tony’s passing through a New Jersey graveyard was another signifer that signified violence in the opening scene. Cemetery is often associated with death. It is easy to deduce from the cemetery symbol that it is violence. This television show will have many deaths. They display the title at the end the opening sequence. “R” is shaped as a firearm. Even the title is violent, the gun signifies violence. Guns will be seen throughout the entire show. The song that plays in the beginning sequence, along with the cemetery and gun in the title, show us that Tony was raised to believe violence would make him successful in his life.
The Sopranos’ opening sequence contains both signifiers as well as signifieds that tell us about the story. The symbols of class, violence, and city can help us to understand the power held by Tony Soprano. Tony appears to be a powerful man in New Jersey, based on these symbols. A man is seen in transit as Tony, who is driving through New York and New Jersey toll booths, drives. Tony drives by many poor buildings at first, but we then see him and other people of upper class living in a nice area. They appear to be insulated from the terrible reality they have created for many Americans. The land he controls is decaying, despite his power. Tony’s drive through the city, then his pull into the driveway symbolizes how you could have a violent neighbor next door. Tony, while in traffic and going through tolls booths between New York and New Jersey, we see the man. The glaring rearview mirror, his lit cigar and ringed finger give away a few pieces of him. The city snippets, and Tony’s pieces are all combined to tell us about the power of staying in movement.
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