LESSON THREE: MEDIA AND INFORMATION LANGUAGES
Media Languages
- Are codes, conventions, formats, symbols and narrative structures that indicate the
meaning of media messages to an audience.
Codes
- are systems of signs that when put together create meaning
Semiotics
- study of signs
Types of Codes:
SYMBOLIC CODES MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT – shows a subject
- Show what is beneath the surface of down to his/her chest/waist
what we see (objects, setting, body
language, clothing, color, etc.) or LONG SHOT – a view of a situation or
iconic symbols that are easily setting from a distance
understood.
FULL SHOT – a view of a figure’s entire
WRITTEN CODES body in order to show action and/or a
- Use of language style and textual constellation group of characters
layout (headlines, captions, speech
bubbles, language style, etc.) CLOSE UP SHOT – a full-screenshot of a
subject’s face showing the finest nuances of
TECHNICAL CODES expression
- Are ways in which equipment is used
to tell the story Point Of View
- This includes sound, camera angles,
types of shots and lighting as well as POINT-OF-VIEW SHOT – shows a scene
camera techniques, framing, depth from the perspective of a character or one
of field, lighting, exposure and person. Most newsreel footages are shown
juxtaposition. from the perspective of the newscaster.
Camera Shots
OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT – often
used in dialogue scenes, a frontal view of a
partner from the perspective of someone
EXTREME LONG SHOT – also called standing behind and slightly to the side of
extreme wide shots such as a large crowd the other partner, so that parts of both can
scene or a view of scenery as far as the be seen
horizon
INSERT SHOT – a detail shot which quickly
MEDIUM LONG SHOT – shows a group of gives visual information necessary to
people in interaction with each other. understand the meaning of a scene.
ZOOM – the stationary camera approaches
HAND-HELD CAMERA SHOT – the camera a subject by “zooming in” or moves farther
is not mounted on a tripod and instead is away by “zooming out”
held by the cameraperson, resulting in less
stable shots.
Conventions
ESTABLISHING SHOT – often used at the - Refers to a standard or norm that
beginning of a scene to indicate the acts as a rule governing behavior
location or setting, it is usually a long shot - Are generally established and
taken from a neutral position. accepted ways of doing something
REACTION SHOT – short shot of a Message
character’s response to an action
- The information sent to a receiver
from a source
REVERSE -ANGLE SHOT – a shot from the
opposite perspective
Audience
Camera Angles - The group of consumers for whom
the media message was constructed
as well as anyone else who is
AERIAL SHOT – overhead shot; also called
exposed to the message
Bird’s Eye Shot; long or extreme long shot of
the ground from the air.
Producers
LONG-ANGLE SHOT – below shot; shows - People engaged in the process of
people or objects from below, lower than creating and putting together media
eye level content to make a finished media
product
HIGH-ANGLE SHOT – shows people or
objects from above higher than eye level
Stakeholders
EYE-LEVEL SHOT – straight-on angle; - Libraries, archives, museums,
views a subject from the level of a person’s internet and other relevant
eye information providers
Camera Movements
PAN SHOT – the camera pans (moves
horizontally) from left to right or vice versa
across the picture
TRACKING SHOT – the camera follows
along next to or behind a moving object or
person
TILT SHOT – the camera tilts up (moves
upwards) or tilts down (moves downwards)
around a vertical line
