media language

Media Language  

Key concepts of media studies-

the key concepts are the single most important frameworks for the whole media course.
I remember the key concepts by using the mnemonic 'RAILING'
Representations;

Audiences
Institutions
Language
Ideology
Narrative
Genre

Media text-

In media studies the word 'text' is used to describe any media product, such as photographs, TV programs, adverts, web pages etc.

Image analysis-

Denotation-
what an image actually shows and is immediately apparent, rather than the assumption the individual reader may make about it; the everyday or common sense meaning of a sign.
Connotation-
the meaning of a sign which is arrived at through cultural experiences that a reader brings to it.

When analysing an image you have to take into account absolutely every aspect. here is an example;

Facial expression:
Eye brows can be a key feature here, for example fully raised eye brows often indicate disbelief, whereas fully lowered eyebrows communicate anger.
Gaze:
The focus of a persons look, for example when two peoples gazes meet, this eye contact can be very powerful.
Bodily posture:
Clearly a slovenly stance communicates something different to an upright one.
Bodily contact:
This could demonstraight intimacy, so is restricted in this photograph.
Spatial behaviour:
The distance between people gives you information about their relationship.
clothes and appearance:
Clothes make a statement about us.

Often photographs are only looked at, rather than really interpreted and analysed like writing is, when in actual fact the word photograph means 'writing with light'. When analysing images it is common to distinguish between their 'form' (how created) and their 'content' (what's in the image).

Framing

Framing defines the position from which the image was created. All frames have a shape, in terms of framing a still image, you can vary:

Angle:
The angle of vision refers to the cameras angle in relation to the vertical, for example straight on position, low angle, high angle etc.
Height:
This is the height at which the shot is taken (often eye-level)
Level:
This refers to the cameras horizontal angle, this usually is 'straight on'
Distance:
This is the distance from the object to the camera.
1. extreme long shot e.g. landscape
2. longshot e.g. a group of people
3. medium shot e.g. one or two people
4. medium close up e.g. part of body
5. close up e.g. face
6. extreme close-up e.g. art of face
Depth of field:
This is the distance between the nearest and furthest area from the camera which is the focus.
Lens type:
Wide-angle lenses make the scene appear deeper than it is. Tor example an extreme wide angle will give a ;fish eye' effect while a telephone lens pulls objects closer together.
Film shock:
This is the spread at which the film responds to light.

Mise-en-scène:
Literal meaning 'put into the scene'
Mise-en-scene refers to anything that goes into the shot- sets, props, costumes, actors, costumes, camera movements and performance.

Semiotics

One of the key theoretical tools to help us deconstruct media texts is semiology. Semiotics is the 'study of signs'.
Signifier- This means the signs physical from, and not its possible interpreted meanings.
Signified- This is the meaning or ideas expressed by a sign.

An example of this;
if we perceive a four legged animal with a very long neck (signifier) this evokes the mental concept of a giraffe (the signified)
This is very similar to connotation and denotation. (denotation is simply identifying a sign and connotation interpreting a meaning from it)