technical/symbolic/non-verbal/proxemics

1. MEDIA
CODES
By: Sarosh Nadeem
Rules or conventions by which signs are put together to create meaning.

2. COLOUR CODE

3. Corpse Bride
It is an animated musical fantasy/fiction film released in
2005 following the plot that victor and victoria are
having their arranged marriage and while victor is
practicing his lines in the forest for the wedding, he is
dragged by a tree branch into the land of the dead so
victor must escape back before her to be wife rather
gets engaged to Barkis. Considering ‘land of the dead’
the movie follows a dark and dull toned down colour
scheme with dominating blues to express the mystery,
fascinating horror and thrill. As the keyword ‘corpse’ in
the title itself means dead so a there is dusk colour
theme to assist that. Lighter and vibrant shades are not
openly used as that would set off the magical terror
spirit of the viewer as these dull colours are what will
keep the audience informed of the perpetual darkness.

4. The Godfather
This is a drama based film from 1972 focusing on an Italian/American family from
which the youngest son joins the mafia so is drawn deeper into family business while
involving in violence thus follows the intense shades of brown, red and beige turning
to black, collectively expressing action with the black suits and guns or the browns to
create a sense of warmth or another sub attribute like the red rose attached to the
formal attire of the main figure to claim authoritativeness so collectively all the
drabbing tones are there for the depiction of killing and exertion of ruthlessness.

5. Doll House (music video)
This came out in 2015 by Melanie Martinez, an American artist who released
this single from her album ‘cry baby’. The video follows a pinkish/purplish
theme, suggested by the title ‘dollhouse’ as these are generally formed and
sold consisting of them. Throughout in the video except than just the objects
and garments, the background itself has a mauve hue layered to keep the
girlish and feminine consistency with the changes in tinges of the basic pink
and purple like the voilet light shattering on top with a periwinkle and amaranth
pink dresses worn in between so this is the importance that the colour scheme
plays here that how it depicts the genre and label of the video. From the
colours in it, one can assume the intent and direction of the video.

6. Esquire (magazine)
An American men magazine founded in 1973
discussing all interests of men from fashion,
health to news. For this publishment, the
colour scheme is majorly black and white
excluding the highlights of the titles like the
masthead printed in red to make it stand out
over the rest, and also basically altogether
demonstrating the hatred being discussed.
Then the use of this specific colour theme is
what allows the text on the front coverpage to
be noteable over the coverphoto which is in
monochrome with the model figure pointing
aversion towards him as in the colour here is
aiding the representation of the notion.
Another point that one might assume through
the colour could be relating to Trump’s
despising pilocies on racism.

7. Green Zone
A thriller film from 2010 based on an officer and his inspectors on an
army mission to find Iraq’s weapons that could cause mass destruction
thus follows a military based colour scheme which is even more strictly
specified at the time of main climax of the plot occurring when the final
encounter amongst the soldiers takes place where the whole picture in
frame follows mixes of green and browns from the background which
has a greenish toned down filter, objects like rusty green army jeeps to
the moss green soldiery garments which altogether are illustrating and
aiding the happenings of the set scene.

8. DRESS CODE

9. Peaky Blinders (Tv series)
An English crime/drama series from 2013 based on the
aftermath of World War I set in 1929’s Birmingham,
England. It follows the exploits of the Shelby crime family
that runs a gang called ‘peaky blinders’. Considering the
formal attire fashion of Britain in the 90’s, the characters
can be seen wearing tweed suits, round collar shirts, long
overcoats along with panel caps and boots relating with
the ongoing theme of street men in action as the gang
members belong to a lower class thus the suits have been
kept of lighter material but sturdy because it’s obvious to
portray like so referring their relation to with a culprit mob
whose aim is violation. Like the main character Shelby
also keeps a pocket watch that completes his look of
being the leader who keeps track of time and wants
everything under control.

10. The Matrix
It is a science fiction/fantasy film from 1999 following
Neo who wants to reach Morpheus who’s the most
dangerous man alive from underworld so he meets
Trinity who leads him to the terrifying elusive figure
and battle against him starts that could cost Neo more
than his precious life. Now considering the plot
surfaced on ‘underworld’ the costumes are set to
indicate darkness and mystery. Moreover, are themes
on blues and black that depicts the genre of the movie
which is fiction hence the characters have worn a long
trench coat, alluring the air of enigma as they are
diving into an unknown world with inner slim-fitted
leather shirt and pants to add an athletic tint as
they’re going on a fighting mission. This is how the
costume is adding depth to the characters and
pointing to a certain direction in the storyline whereas
they could have been wearing casual baggy tee shirts
and trousers but that wouldn’t indicate their aim nor
would express the intensity. Another attribute
assisting their identities are the agent glasses as they
simply themselves are one so must wear them
accommodate their personalities.

11. Memoirs of a Geisha
It is an American melodrama film that came in 2005
featuring a small girl sold into servitude soon adopts
beauty and intelligence after years of training but
things change as World War II gradually disrupts
peace so following the culture and ethnicity of a
Japanese girl, the lead wears a silk robe which is
more shaped around the waist as done in Japan
accompanied with bright makeup then the attire is
slightly glammed up from casual when the character
is shown moving to a higher class and gaining
status. Therefore, she then carries the similar robes
but of a higher quality material with more intricate
patterns along with some jewellery but throughout
the clothing is serving the Japanese heritage as the
character belongs to it so the dress code is
representing the inheritance belonging of the person
playing the role from which the audience can identify
that on whom is the narrative based on.

12. Titanic
A drama film from1997 based on a true
event consisting sinking of an ill-fated
voyage with an added love story of
characters belonging to different social
classes present in the ship of dreams
‘titanic’ where the lead heroine from a
wealthy elite class family is shown wearing
expensive flowy and beaded chiffon and
velvet gowns as the set theme for her was
royal also from which many of the dresses
became iconic, along she wore subtle but
elegant jewellery, ruth felt hats, mid arm
leather gloves which symbolised richness
as was traditionally worn by very
prosperous maidens in the 90’s
representing their higher position in the
society.

13. Long Gone(music video)
This by Phum Viphurit (artist) published
in 2017 showing teen life from the early
20’s with a very casual theme directing
towards love in the clouds, just chilling
and soul searching like a confused teen
does so there’s that casualty hence the
clothing is baggy and comfy like the
featuring artists are wearing loose boot
cut jeans, denim overalls and converse
shoes giving the audience very light and
calm sensation as that exactly is the
vision of the video which the clothing
outlines.

14. Technical codes

15. The Dark Knight
A drama/thriller film from 2008 featuring an ‘over the shoulder shot’
which is a technical code of camera shots used to show conversing
with one another with focusing on the character that is talking at a
time while showing the back of the other as here the camera focuses
on the villain who is the ‘Joker’ talking to the main hero ‘Batman’.

16. The Blair Witch Project (poster)
A shot from a psychological
horror movie that came in
1999 using an ‘extreme
close up’ angle of the
character used in the
poster to capture the
emotional expression in
her eyes and to captivate
the audience by zooming it,
in order to make it more
connecting with the
viewers as in one can feel
the fear rising from her
eyes deeply as the close
up is allowing her eyes to
be the main focus by which
the genre of the film can
also be known

17. Pulp Fiction
A ‘point of view shot’ in the drama/crime movie from 1994
showing the direction of vision from the angle of the two
characters to portray their sight of perspective.

18. Riverdale (Tv series)
This is an ‘establishing shot’ or an extreme
long shot from the American drama series of
2017 shown in the very first episode to inform
the audience about the primary location where
the story will be set in further so by seeing it
right in the start one can know that the show
is based featuring this high school’s narrative.

19. Fight Club
An example of the use of ‘low-key’ light
from a black comedy movie of
1999,making the colours appear even
more dull and toned down in order to
make it seem more dramatic and to
show isolation as the character is
standing alone alongside indicating an
opening to a sudden movement whilst
creating tension amongst the audience.

20. Symbolic Codes

21. The Vampire Diaries (Tv series)
One of the main characters from 2009’s American
series where the character adopts pointed canines
when transforming from human to a vampire which
symbolizes the change and tells the audience about
the upcoming danger, threat or violence after his
conversion.

22. A symbolizing chainsaw used in the thriller/slasher movie from 2013 pointing out
the genre and the set plot just from this one element as one can right away think of
killing and cutting by looking at the gigantic chainsaw so would then know what it
revolves around.
Texas Chainsaw

23. Saw
A pig mask which is an animal thus it’s mask
is purposely used to relate to slaughtering
throughout the mystery movie series from
2004 worn by the killer where the mask
represents the identity of the slayer so
whenever this is shown the audience knows
that the kidnapping is about to be done.

24. Who Am I ?
A drama/crime
film from 2014
where the lead
is seen wearing
a clown mask to
indicate
mystery and to
brief that he’s a
hacker as
they’re known
to remain
anonymous so
this a secret
and triggers a
puzzle to the
viewer.

25. Hansel and Gretel
In this fantasy/action film from
2013,the main lead hold a bow and
arrow to characterize that they’re
hunters so it symbolizes that they
will be hunting someone or
something so by seeing the tool
held in their hands, the viewers
would know what they do.

26. Proxemics/Non Verbal Codes

27. Stranger things (Tv series)
This shot from the science/fiction
American web series captures the facial
expressions of the character that speaks
itself even though she doesn’t verbally
explain the rage and anger but can be
seen in her eyes.

28. Forrest Gump
This is from the
comedy/drama film
of 1994 when the two
main lead characters
exchange a tight hug
showing the strong
bond of love they
share and how
secure they feel
together. They can
be seen hugging
strongly which also
expresses the fear of
losing one another
as the man is leaving
for war so might not
make it back.

29. The Great Gatsby
This is from the melodrama film that came in
2013 showing the lead character raising a glass
of wine while looking ahead which is a sign of
well wishing before drinking through the gesture
of forwardly holding your wine glass so it
justifies the requirement of the situation without
the need of speaking but just with visual
greeting.

30. Ghost World
An indie film from 2001 showing the
proxemics of intimate distance
between the characters indicating
their closeness and secureness so
there is less space left in between
them.

31. Magazine Cover
Here the facial
expression of the girl
featured on the front
magazine cover says it
all as the main article is
based on war so
accordingly the model
poses with a look of
fright and dread on her
face while looking in the
camera and making it
more appealing for the
reader.