In semiology, what term refers to elements that fix the meaning of an image?

In semiology, the term that refers to elements that fix the meaning of an image is "anchorage." This concept is vital as it suggests how text or other contextual elements help to guide the interpretation of an image, providing clarity and limiting ambiguity. Anchorage helps to establish a specific meaning by attaching a textual or contextual reference that visually assists the viewer in understanding the intended message of the image.

The importance of anchorage lies in its ability to influence how an audience perceives and interprets visuals. In various media forms, such as advertisements and films, anchoring elements can determine how the viewer engages with the content and shapes their emotional or intellectual response to it. Thus, understanding anchorage is critical in media analysis since it highlights the interaction between images and their contextual descriptors in constructing meaning.

Signifier refers to the form that a sign takes, while denotation concerns the literal meaning of an image. Iconography refers to the study of images and symbols in art and culture but does not specifically address the fixing of meaning in the same way that anchorage does.