Deadline Day Homework- Media Language

LANGUAGE: How the media through their forms, codes, conventions and techniques communicate meanings. 

With language you must consider:
  • Which modes are used in each of the media texts (e.g print, moving image, words)
  • Which tools are used with each mode (E.g camera angles, font, colour)
  • What meanings and effects they convey (E.g the connotations of the media language)

The study of media language is called Semiology, which was made famous by Roland Barthes. He believes that there are many codes embedded into media language and it is the audiences' job to discover them and decode them. They are:

  • Sematic codes = Have hidden meanings such as red and black associated with horror.
  • Enigma codes = Mysterious parts of media which makes people want to read or watch on. E.g. newspaper cover saying 'Read on to find out what this means for us.'
  • Cultural codes = Parts of the media that you are only going to understand if you are part of that culture.
  • Proairetic codes = Signifies something is going to happen e.g a man pulling a gun out of his pocket shows he is going to kill someone.
  • Symbolic codes = Images that symbolise something such as a red heart symbolises love.




Camera shot types are important for media language as they allow the director to create scenes which will keep audiences engaged. They are:
  • Establishing shot
  • Master Shot
  • Long Shot
  • Mid Shot
  • Two Shot
  • Close Up
  • Extreme Close Up
  • Over The Shoulder Shot
  • Point Of View Shot
Camera angles are also important for media language as they are used as a tool in the mode which allows for the audience to pick up on the meanings the director is trying to convey. The angles are:
  • High Angle = Makes the object seem small, insignificant or vulnerable
  • Low Angle = Makes the object seem powerful, threatening or dominant.
  • Bird's Eye View = An unnatural angle which can make objects seem strange. Puts audience in God like position looking down on the action.
  • Canted Angle = An off kilter shot which often suggests confusion, disorientation or drunkenness.
  • Eye Level = Neutral shot, gives the impression we are watching the action unfold.
Mis-en-scene is an important key term in analysing media language which means 'what is in the frame'. It is broken into:
  • Positioning and body language of characters 
  • Lighting
  • Hair/ makeup/ costume
  • Setting and props
All of these features allows for the audience to make a good analysis of media language and analyse the messages in which they have picked up on.

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