2. Media Language/Forms
You need to consider:
Colour
Camera Angles
Setting
Dress codes
Body language
Props
Written codes (such as
font,size,style)
Editing
Sound
This is known as the
mise-enscene
What does the colour represent, what atmosphere does
it create? For example yellow represents joy and creates
a warm atmosphere.
Different angles achieve different effects. An extreme close up
can be done to bring attention to detail but it can also achieve
intimacy or make the audience uncomfortable.
Can be anything ranging from
props to lighting.
For example , fast pace editing can create a
feeling of urgency; this can be due to
excitement or fear.
Diagetic and Non-diagetic sounds have
different effects. Non-diagetic sounds help to
set the mood whereas diagetic sounds such as
voices are often used to tell a story.
3. Semiotics – the study of signs
Lighting Signifier & Signified
It examines how symbolic,written and technical signs construct meaning.
Looks at how meaning is made and understood.
High Key Lighting:
oAble to see everything
oNothing is hidden
oJoyful
oCould represent happiness, summer
oLikely to be used in a comedy or a light hearted film
Low Key Lighting:
oFear
oIntroduction of a villain
oSad
oSense of mystery
oLikely to be used in a horror film
Coloured lighting:
oUsed to give a particular effect to a scene. A golden glow is
often used to light a scene where a solf, flattering effect is
required.
Diagetic Lighting:
oNatural lighting that belongs to the scene , such as a lamp, torch
or the sun.
The Signifier:
oThe sign: could be a word, colour or image
(i.e. the colour blue)
The Signified:
oThe concept/meaning/assicuations with the
sign (i.e. blue is associated with sadness or the
sea)
Example: ‘The coulour yellow is a signifier that
signifies joy, sunshine or a happy atmosphere.’
All media texts have two layers of meaning:
oDenonative level – what we actually see
oConnotative level – what you associate with it
Example:’Blue sky is a denotation , its connotation is
summer,purity or a happy atmosphere.
4. Camera Angles
• Wide shot/Very long shot – used to show the setting. Figures will be small , this is often used to
establish a scene and give the audience an idea of context.
• Long shot- figures will be seen from head to toe, some background will be seen. Often follows up
a wide shot to focus on a person.
• Mid shot/Medium shot- this is used to clearly identify what the subject is doing. Usually from the
waist up.
• Mid close up- this shot focuses on a frame that shows their chest to their head.
• Over the shoulder shot- often a mid close up , looking over a persons shoulder , commonly used
in soaps.
• Close up- Focuses on the face of a person. It creates an intimate feeling for the audience or
focuses on detail.
• Extreme close up- focuses on one area of the face to show an emotion or expression.
5. Camera Angles
• Low angle shot- it makes the subject look
bigger,overpowering, important or threatening.
• High angle shot- makes the subject appear vunerable, weak
or threatened.
• Point of view shot- to show someones point of view- for
example looking through the eyes of a killer.
• Dutch Angle- the camera is titled or slanted creating a feeling
of unease or disturbance.
• Bird eye shot- the camera looking vertically straight down at
the subject.
• Eye level shot- very common- looking at the subject at eye
level.
• Steadicam- camera is placed in a harness so that it remains
steady.
6. Sound
Sound whose source is visible on the screen or
whose source is implied to be present by the
action of the film:
voices of characters
sounds made by objects in the story
music represented as coming from instruments
in the story space ( = source music)
Diegetic sound is any sound presented as
originated from source within the film's world
Diegetic sound can be either on screen or off
screen depending on whatever its source is within
the frame or outside the frame.
Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound
Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has
been implied to be present in the action:
narrator's commentary
sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
mood music
Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the
source outside story space.
The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound
depends on our understanding of the conventions of film
viewing and listening. We know of that certain sounds are
represented as coming from the story world, while others
are represented as coming from outside the space of the
story events. A play with diegetic and non-diegetic
conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to
surprise the audience (comedy).
Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary
sound.
Diegetic Sound Non-Diegetic Sound
7. Narrative Structures
Open
Closed
Circular
Linear
Non-Linear
Single-Strand
Multi-Strand
Non-Narrative
The storyline continues beyond the end
of an episode.
The storyline is resolved when the film or
episode ends.
Nothing really chages; charactes return to their
original state by the end.
The narrative unfolds in a chronoligocal
order.
The narrative does not progress in chronological
order; flashbacks are used.
The narrative focuses upon one central
character.
The narrative focuses upon a group of
central characters.
The media text does not contain a
narrative structure.
8. Audience
• There are two types of audience:
Passive Audience: an audience that is easy to influence, injected with idead though media and acting upon it.
Active Audience: an audience that is not so easily influenced , does not believe everything in the media, contributes to
media.
Demographics
They are to do with how much money you earn &
your education.
ABC1C2DE
Higher
management
Middle
management
White collar
workers
Blue collar
workers
Semi-skilled and
unskilled manual
workers
Unemployed,
students,pensio
ners,casual
workers
Psychographics
The 4C’s- Cross Cultural Consumer
Characterisation:
Mainstreamers: largest group, concerned with
stability and security. Will buy well recognised,
reliable products.
Aspirers: seek to improve themselves. Like high
status brands.
Succeedes: secure and in control. Buy products
which reinforce feelings of control and power.
Reformers: idealists who consume eco-friendly
products which show care and responsibility.
9. Theories
• Hypodermic needle theory: the media influences us directly and we
are affected by what we see and hear. no attempt to process or
challenge the media.
• Two step flow: this is where we discuss what we see and hear with
others (opinion leaders) before reaching decisions about it
• Uses and gratifications: audience now made choices about what
media they consumed. actively consuming different texts for
different reasons.
• Reception theory: even further than actively consuming texts,
audiences are now also affected by other factors such as age,
ethnicity etc. the producer encodes the text, and the audience
decode, so there is a difference between them. however codes and
conventions are used to create a dominant/proffered reading.
10. Theories in Film
Todorov
- Equilibrium: Everythings
right.
- Disruption: something goes
wrong
- Recognition: Recognising
that something is wrong
- Resolution: Resolve the
situation
- Equilibrium again
Levi Strauss
Narrative consists of sets of binary oppositions
which drive the narrative:
Good V Evil
Dark V Light
Young V Old
Human V Immortal
Past V Present
Hot V Cold
Man V Woman
Audiences follow the narrative in order to see the
resolution of these oppositions.
Proppian Roles
oHero- motivated by something normally a lack of something. Not
necassarily a heroic character but more a person that carries the story
along. (Simba
oVillain- The bad guy, corrupting, knows a secret (Scar)
oPrincess- reward for the hero, objects to the villain (Nala)
oDonor- provides the hero with essential objects e.g. advice (Mufasa)
oBlocker- Someone who tries to make the hero fail (zazoo)
oKing- rewards the hero, father figure (Mufasa)
oDespatcher- sends the hero on a mission (Nala)
oHenchman- aid the villain ( Hyenas)
oHelpers- aid the hero ( Timone and Pumba)
oFalse hero- who is seen as the hero but isn't really, decpetive character
(Scar)
oTemptress - an allruing woman out to make the hero fail ( Hyenas)
Propps spheres of action
oThe hero sets out on a quest, sent out be despatcher
(Phil trains hercules then sends him on his quest)
oThe princess is threatened by the villain and rescued by the hero
(Meg has sold her soul to hades, Hercules gives up his power)
oThe donor gives the hero something to help him on his quest
(Hercules' adoptive parents show him the necklace off his mother)
oThe blocker causes obstacles on the quest (Pain and panic)
oThe hero is tempted from his quest (He falls in love with Meg)
oThe hero is rewarded by the king (Zues creates a picture of hercules in
the stars, to hail him as a true hero)
Barthes
Roland Barthes proposed that narratives are propelled by a series of codes e.g.
Enigma codes (hermeneutic) a question that is not immediately answered thus
draws an audience into the text (who is the chosen one in harry potter)
Action code-immediately understandable action in a film (proairectec), can offer
a short hand for describing how things are progressing/advancing e.g.
place=someone will arrive in another country
Symbolic codes - codes that can be decoded on a mainly connotational level - all
the things which draw upon our experience and understanding of other media
texts.Broad themes are often structed in oppositions (Strauss) (The characters of
Shrek)
Cultural codes- code of reference to knowledge outside of the text e.g. accents,
knowledge about particular places, parody of other texts/films.
Viewer brings this knowledge to the film e.g. colour red=Danger, passion or stop
