LESSON 1
CODES
CONVENTION &
CODE
Codes are the tools we use to create meaning and to
construct and analyse media work. Codes include
Technical Codes (the ways we create meaning by how we
record an image), Symbolic Codes (the ways we create
meaning by what we see in an image), Audio Codes (the
ways we create meaning through the use of sound) and
Written Codes (the ways we construct meaning through
the use of text).
TYPES OF CODES
1. Technical Codes - the ways we create meaning by how
we record an image.
2. Symbolic Codes - the ways we create meaning by what
we see in an image.
3. Audio Codes - the ways we create meaning through the
use of sound.
4. Written Codes - the ways we construct meaning through
the use of text.
TECHNICAL CODES
EDITING SOFTWARE - video editing software, or a video editor is
software used performing the post-production video editing of digital
video sequences on a non-linear editing system.
CINEMATIC LIGHTING - is a film lighting technique that goes beyond
the standard three-point lighting setup to add drama, depth, and
atmosphere to the story.
CAMERA – is a device for recording an image of an
object on a light sensitive surface.
CAMERA SHOTS - are the building blocks of film, and
shot selection has a significant impact on the way a
viewer interprets the action on screen.
DIFFERENT
TYPES OF
CAMERA
COMPACT CAMERA ( Point-And-Shot Camera )
A point-and-shoot camera, also known as
a compact camera and sometimes
abbreviated to P&S, is a still camera
designed primarily for simple operation.
DSLR Cameras
A digital single-lens reflex camera
is a digital camera that combines
the optics and the mechanisms of
a single-lens reflex camera with a
solid-state image sensor and
digitally records the images from
the sensor.
SLR Cameras
A single-lens reflex camera (SLR) is
a camera that typically uses a mirror and
prism system (hence "reflex" from the
mirror's reflection) that permits the
photographer to view through the lens
and see exactly what will be captured.
Medium Format Cameras
Medium format is any camera
format that makes use of the 120
film size or it uses a digital imaging
sensor that matches that size.
Medium format takes pictures that
are just smaller than a large format
size (102x127mm), but bigger than
using 135mm or full-frame
sensors.
Mirrorless Cameras
Mirrorless cameras are a lighter, more
compact alternative to the DSLR, and
provide incredible quality images,
especially video. The camera body lacks
a mirror that reflects light to the sensor,
instead the light goes straight to the
sensor.
Action or Adventure Cameras
Action cameras, sometimes called
Adventure cameras, are great for outdoor
filming, or otherwise rough conditions.
They’re often used for sports photography
and videography.
360 Cameras
Similar to action cameras, many
360-degree cameras are water
resistant and mountable on a ton
of surfaces. They can be put on
drones, helmets, cars, you name
it.
Video Cameras
A video camera is an optical
instrument that captures videos.
CAMERA ANGLE - used to help enhance the
narrative, the theme, and the overall mood of the film.
CAMERA MOVEMENT - adds a sense of forward
momentum, adds pace & energy, and allows the
viewer to participate in the action.
SYMBOLIC CODES
SETTING - The setting is the time and place of the narrative.
When discussing the setting, you can describe the setting of the
whole story or just a specific scene.
MISE EN SCENE- It is a French term that means ‘everything
within the frame.’ In media terms, it has become to mean the
description of all the objects within a frame of the media product and
how they have been arranged.
ACTING - Actors portray characters in media products and
contribute to character development, creating tension, or
advancing the narrative. The actor portrays a character through:
✓ Facial expression
✓ Body Language
✓ Vocal qualities
✓ Movement
✓ Body contact
COLOUR- Colour has highly cultural and strong
connotations. When studying the use of color in a media
product, the different aspects of being looking at are:
✓ Dominant color
✓ Contrasting foils
✓ Colour symbolism
AUDIO CODES
ON SCREEN - refers to any sound that is visibly connected to
what is happening on the screen, such as a character playing
music on a guitar.
OFF SCREEN SOUND refers to any sound that is not visibly
connected to what is happening on the screen, such as the sound of a
car honking in the distance.
DIALOGUE- conversation between two or more people as a
feature of a book, play, or movie.
BACKGROUND MUSIC is the sound that is laid over the visual
content of a commercial, educational, or marketing video.
SOUND EFFECTS an artificially created or enhanced sound, or sound
process used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows,
live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media.
WRITTEN CODES
HEADLINES- text above an article that summarizes its overall
content.
TITLE the name of a book, composition, or other artistic work.
SUBTITLE - captions displayed at the bottom of a movie or
television screen that translate or transcribe the dialogue or
narrative.
EDITING SOFTWARE
What is CODE &
CONVENTION?
CONVENTION
These are the accepted ways of using
media codes. These are closely
connected to the audience’s
expectations of a media product.
TYPES OF
CONVENTION
Form conventions.
These are 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.
Story Conventions
These are common narrative structures and
understandings that are common in storytelling
media products.
Examples of story conventions include:
✓ Narrative structures
✓ Cause and effect
✓ Character construction
✓ Point of View
Genre Conventions
It points 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.
