Original Article ISSN (Online): 2582-7472 ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts January-June 2023 4(1), 18–28 How to cite this article (APA): Sugadev, T. (2023). Cover Design, Film Poster, and Subtitles: Semiotics of Paratexts in Selecting Parodies. ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 4(1), 18–28. doi: 10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i1.2023.269 18 COVER DESIGN, FILM POSTER, AND SUBTITLES: SEMIOTICS OF PARATEXTS IN SELECTING PARODIES T. Sugadev 1 1 Assistant Professor of English, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Vandalur, Chennai & Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of English, University of Madras, Chepauk, India ABSTRACT A literary text becomes complete only when all its linguistic components are seen together to form meaning. French literary theorist Gerard Genette introduced a term called ‘Paratext’ to identify the additional parts of a text like subtitle, prefaces, introductory notes that contribute meaning to the text. A parody is generally understood as a work or performance that imitates another work or performance with ridicule or irony. In the field of literature, a parody comes with the effective imitation of the content of the parodied work in a satirical and ironical way. Paratext also attributes a lot in detailing the imitation of a work which fulfills the nature of parody from cover to cover. The relationship between a paratext and a parody can be better understood from a semiotic perspective. When paratexts are considered as linguistic, cultural, and contextual signs, they make the reader acquainted to the text. Hence, this research paper analyses the semiotic significance of paratexts in selecting parodies with reference to cover design, cover illustrations, subtitles, and film posters of select parodies. Received 18 November 2022 Accepted 04 January 2023 Published 10 January 2023 Corresponding Author T. Sugadev, sugadevthalapathy@gmail.com DOI 10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i1.2023.269 Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. With the license CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author. Keywords: Semiotics, Paratexts, Parodies, Paratext as Sign, Subtitles, Cover Design 1. INTRODUCTION Language, apart from human communication, is a medium used for business transactions, education, exploration, knowledge dissemination, constitutional purposes and freedom of expression of one’s thoughts and varied emotions. Samuel Johnson rightly said that “Language is the dress of thought”. Literature is a collection of thoughts expressed artistically through a language. Both literature and language are inseparable and compliment to each other. Expressing one’s thoughts with an artistic style paves way for the literariness and thus a literary creation.