This document discusses different types of codes and conventions used in media. It describes symbolic codes, technical codes, and written codes which use symbols, technical elements, and language to convey meaning. It also outlines form conventions, story conventions, and genre conventions - the common structures and narrative patterns expected within different media forms and genres that help audiences understand and engage with a work. Overall, the document provides an overview of the symbolic, technical, and structural elements that media relies on to effectively communicate information and stories.

1. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Media

2. SYMBOLIC CODES
• Symbolic codes live outside the media product themselves but be
understood in similar ways in real life for the audience. The acting, mise
en scene, colour, setting and props all can have symbolism which can be
understood both in films and in reality.

3. TECHNICAL CODES
• Technical codes are specific to media form and don’t live outside of
them. That means that they have the connotation only when we watch
the film which feature them but it doesn’t have any meaning in real life.
Technical codes are the codes that build meaning with the help of
technical elements such as camerawork, editing, lightning and sound.

4. WRITTEN CODES
• Written codes are the formal written language used in media. Just like
technical and symbolic codes, they are used to advance narrative,
communicate information about a character or issues and themes.
Written code include printed language which is the text written and
spoken language which includes dialogues, monologues and even song
lyrics.

5. FORM CONVENTIONS
• Form conventions are the certain ways we expect types of media’s codes
to be arranged. For instance an audience expects to have a title of the
film at the beginning, and then credits at the end. Newspapers will have
a masthead, the most important news on the front page and sports
news on the back page. Video games usually start with a tutorial to
explain the mechanics of how the game works.

6. STORY CONVENTIONS
• Story conventions are common narrative structures and understandings
that are common in story telling media products. Examples of story
conventions include character construction, narrative structures, cause
and effect and point of view.

7. GENRE CONVENTIONS
• Genre conventions point to the common use of tropes, characters,
settings or themes in a particular type of medium. Genre conventions
are closely linked with audience expectations. Genre conventions can
be formal or thematic. For formal conventions there are aspects of real
life and aspects of film as an art form that shape the way in which the
audience experiences a single film. Thematic conventions use themes to
set the mood and atmosphere of story which happen to overlap with
other stories of the same genre.