MEDIA LANGUAGES
Media languages
- pertains to the techniques selected and
used by professionals to communicate
ideas, information and knowledge to
the audience
Codes
-system of signs, put together to create
meaning and the meanings are dictated
by agreed rules of interpretation
-meanings are agreed upon by the
communicators because the rules in
understanding the codes are shared by
the members of the community
The Wizard of Oz
Codes of a villain in
movies and other
media
➢ wears a glamorous
outfit
➢Puffs cigarettes
➢“mataray look”
➢“authoritative look”
➢Laughs devilishly
Conventions
- general accepted way of doing
things that has formed into a habit
because of repeated exposure and
experience of these messages.
CODES AND CONVENTIONS IN FILMS
MEDIA LANGUAGES
Media codes and
conventions
Symbolic/Visual Written Codes Audio Codes Technical
codes Codes
SYMBOLIC CODES
-show what is beneath the surface of what we see
-objects that create meaning within an image
object
clothing
color,
settings of the story
body language
animals etc.
SYMBOLIC CODES- OBJECTS
Kill Bill, Star Wars EpII
SYMBOLIC CODES- OBJECTS
SYMBOLIC CODES- OBJECTS
SYMBOLIC CODES- COLOR
SYMBOLIC CODES- SETTING
Settings
Stagecoach, Bladerunner
SYMBOLIC CODES
Clothing
Elizabeth
SYMBOLIC CODES- LIGHTING
SYMBOLIC CODES- MISE EN SCENE
SYMBOLIC CODES- MISE EN SCENE
a term used to describe the setting of a scene
in a play or a film.
It refers to everything placed on the stage or
in front of the camera—including people.
In other words, mise en scène is a catch-all for
everything that contributes to the visual
presentation and overall “look” of a
production. When translated from French, it
means “placing on stage.”
SYMBOLIC CODES- MISE EN SCENE
Components of Mise en Scène in Film
✓ Actors
✓ Location
✓ Set design
✓ Lighting
✓ Shot blocking and camera placement
✓ Composition
✓ Depth of space
✓ Costumes
✓ Hair and makeup
WRITTEN CODES
- The use of language style and textual layout to express meaning
-Very common in Print media: headlines, captions, speech bubbles
etc. (print style and size)
Written text on screen
Activity 1: DIRECTION: Identify all
possible the media language used in the
following sample of film cover. Discuss
your answer in the right column.
AUDIO CODE
Sound
✓Any use of sound- dialogue, music or sound
effects to create meaning or emotion.
✓Concern all that is heard, such as background
noise, voice-over, music, dialogue, sounds, sound
effects etc.
AUDIO CODE
Sound
Two types of sound
❖Diegetic sound
- visible on the screen, wherein the source
can be implied to be present by the action of
the film such as voices of characters, sounds
made by object in the story.
-Any sound present within the film’s world
AUDIO CODE
Diegetic sound
AUDIO CODE
❖Non-diegetic sound
- neither visible on the screen
nor has been implied to be present
in action such as narrator’s
commentary, sound effects which
are added for dramatic impact
TECHNICAL CODES
-These are signs that produced
when camera techniques are utilized
- The use of technology to create
meaning - camera angles and
distances, lighting and editing.
Establishing shot
-Used as opening scenes to establish
shot
Long shot/Wide shot-
The distance of the camera from its
subject also reflects an emotional
distance; the audience does not get
as emotionally involved in what’s
going on as they were closer.
▪ It makes viewers a casual
bystander, somewhat aloof of
what’s going happening.
Extreme long shot/Bird’s eye shot
- typically used to show subjects of
relatively massive scale
-It is to show large groups of
characters in a situation
Extreme long shot
Low angle shot
-Gives emphasis that the object is powerful
or larger
- Exaggerates height, power or
authoritativeness
High angle shot
-The audience looks down on a person to make the
character appear small or vulnerable
Over the shoulder shot
-Used when the shooting conversation between
two people, speaker’s full face is shown while camera
is aimed over the shoulder of the listener
Over the shoulder shot
Point of View shot/ POV
A point of view shot is a film angle that shows what a character is looking at in
the first person. In other words, the camera acts as the eyes of a character and
the audience sees what they see. It is usually established by being positioned
between a shot of a character looking at something, and a shot showing the
character's reaction.
Medium close up/ medium shot
-characters are seen from waist up.
-this is good for showing people interacting and
conversing
-the most common shot
Full shot
-A view of a figure’s entire body in order to show action
and/or constellation group of characters
Close up
-the expressions and emotions of an actor are more visible
and affecting and is meant to engage the character in a direct and
personal manner.
Extreme close up
-used for amplifying emotional intensity
-It raises the intensity of the problems behind them
CAMERA MOVEMENTS
1. Pan(ning) shot
- The camera moves horizontally from left to right
or vice versa across the picture
CAMERA MOVEMENTS
2. Tilt shot
-The camera moves upwards or downwards
around a vertical line
TECHNICAL CODES
3. Tracking
shot or Dolly
shot
- The camera
follows along
next to or
behind a
moving object
TECHNICAL CODES
4. Zoom In and Out
- The camera approaches a subject by zooming in; or
moves farther away by zooming out
Hero
As an audience, it is important
to be aware of the codes and
conventions in order to be
aware as to how a particular
meaning is being created.
ACTIVITY 1: MATCH ME
Direction: Match the following terms in column A that best
describes the figures in column B. Write the letter of the
correct answer on the space provided before the number.
