Media > Language > Flashcards

Language Flashcards

(68 cards)

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1
Q

Media Language

A

How choice (selection, combination, and exclusion) of elements of media language influence meaning in media.

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2
Q

How can elements of media language influence media?

A
  • Create narratives
  • Portray aspects of reality
  • Construct points of view
  • Represent the world in ways that convey messages and values through codes and conventions.
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3
Q

Narrative Theory (Tzvetan Todorov)

A

Every narrative follows a five part structure:

  1. Equilibrium
  2. Disruption of the equilibrium
  3. Recognition of the disruption
  4. An attempt to repair the damage
  5. New equilibrium
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4
Q

Character Theory (Vladimir Propp)

A

Every narrative has eight characters:

  • Hero
  • Villain
  • False hero
  • Dispatcher
  • Princess
  • Princess’ father
  • Helper
  • Donor
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5
Q

Who is the hero of a narrative?

A

Someone on the quest through which the audience follows the narrative.

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6
Q

Who is the villain of a narrative?

A

Someone who struggles to stop the hero in their quest. An example of a type of antagonist.

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7
Q

Who is the false hero of a narrative?

A

A character that initially appears good or presents themself as the protagonist/helper of the protagonist, but is revealed to be evil later on.

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8
Q

Who is the dispatcher of a narrative?

A

The person that sends the hero on their quest.

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9
Q

Who is the princess of a narrative?

A

A reward for the hero. Often needs to be protected from a villain.

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10
Q

Who is the princess’ father of a narrative?

A

The authority figure who gives a reward to the hero e.g. his daughter’s hand in marriage for completing the quest. (Propp noted that the princess and her father were often indistinguishable archetypes)

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11
Q

Who is the helper of a narrative?

A

Offers help to the hero in their quest; usually a sidekick.

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12
Q

Who is the donor of a narrative?

A

Prepares the hero for their quest by giving them a special power or item.

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13
Q

Enigma Code (Roland Barthes)

A

An element of a narrative that isn’t fully explained, so it becomes a puzzle or mystery to the audience.

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14
Q

Non-verbal/symbolic codes

A
  • Mise-en-scene
  • Paralanguage + facial expressions
  • Props, costumes
  • Key signifiers/images
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15
Q

Written/verbal codes

A
  • Written words e.g. slogans, mastheads, captions
  • Typeface/font
  • Style
  • Choice or emphasis of words
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16
Q

Technical codes

A
  • Camera angles
  • Camera shots
  • Editing choices e.g. cropping, juxtaposition
  • Sound
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17
Q

Aerial shot

A
  • Filmed from the air

- Often used to establish a location

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18
Q

Establishing shot

A
  • At the head (start) of scene

- Establishes location of action is set on whilst also setting tone of upcoming scene

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19
Q

Close-up (CU)

A
  • Usually framed above shoulders and has full face of character in the frame.
  • May focus on significant object
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20
Q

Extreme close-up (XCU)

A

Frame is focused on a small part of the character’s face or a small detail of an important object.

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21
Q

Medium shot (MS)

A

Shoots from the character’s waist up.

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22
Q

Dolly zoom

A

The camera tracks forward, while simultaneously zooming in or out, or vice-versa.

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23
Q

Over-The-Shoulder-Shot

A
  • Camera is positioned behind a character’s shoulder

- Usually used to show a conversation

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24
Q

High Angle Shot

A

Shot from a higher point and looks down on the character.

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25
Long Shot
Frames character from the top of their head to toe whilst capturing their environment.
26
Low Angle Shot
Shot from a lower point and shoots up at the character.
27
Two-Shot
Medium shot that shows two characters within the frame.
28
Extreme Long Shot (XLS)
Identifies the key signifiers: characters and setting.
29
Genre
A category or type of media product.
30
Hybrid genre
Derived from two or more genres to create a new category.
31
Anchorage
Copy that anchors an image and its meaning.
32
Antagonist
In a plot, a character whose function is to disrupt the protagonist. Often, but not always, a villain.
33
Archetype
- An original on which many copies are based - Often used in relations to characters in fictional works - E.g. the mother, rebel, villain
34
Binary opposition
- The contrast between two concepts; the contrast usually causes conflict that drives the narrative - E.g. male v. female, good v. evil, light v. dark.
35
Brand
A type of product that is marketed and manufactured under a particular logo, name, and design.
36
By-line
The printed line of text in a newspaper/magazine that names the writer of an article.
37
Code
- A communication system which includes signs, rules and shared understanding. - E.g. the English language, non-verbal codes, print codes and editing codes.
38
Colour palette
The suite of colours that are used in the creation of media texts- e.g. websites, magazines- to reflect a brand and appeal to its audience.
39
Connotation
- The meanings of a sign or media product that are made by cultural association - Often the deeper or underlying meanings - E.g. images of a sunset in a film may connote ending or closure
40
Cover price
The price printed on the cover of a printed media text.
41
Cross-head
Words used as a title or sub-heading to break up text in a newspaper or magazine.
42
Cross-cut
An editing technique used to establish that action is occurring at the same time.
43
Conventions
- Established rules or shared understandings used in the creation of media products - More likely tobe taken for granted as ‘the way we do things’ rather than formally written down.
44
Copy
The written material, as opposed to images, that features in a media text.
45
Cut
The written material, as opposed to images, that features in a media text.
46
Date line
A line that shows the date that a media publication/article was written/first published.
47
Desktop publishing
``` Desktop Publishing (DTP) software allows the user to create printed media texts with various page layouts and designs. ```
48
Digital (platform)
Digital media is any media that can be created, viewed and distributed digital devices.
49
Diegetic sound
Actual sound from the world of the film, whether on or off screen.
50
Non-diegetic sound
- Sound that is neither on screen or featured in the ‘world of the film' - Typically sound effects or background music added to create mood and atmosphere.
51
Editing
A post-production technique – any arranging, revising and preparing of written, audio or video content to get the piece ready for audience consumption.
52
Editorial
An article in a newspaper or magazine that expresses an opinion on a topical issue.
53
Enigma
A question, mystery or clue that is not immediately resolved which draws the audience in.
54
Flashback
A scene in a moving image that is set in an earlier time than the main story.
55
Font
The style and size of text characters on the printed page or screen.
56
Headline
The text, usually in larger font, at the top of a page or article in a newspaper or article, indicating what the content is to the reader.
57
Intertextuality
Often media texts make references to other texts and popular culture to interest and engage the audience.
58
Logo
The visual image used to identify a product, brand or company.
59
Masthead
A publication’s name or title in a distinctive form usually placed at the top of the front page or cover page.
60
Message
The expected reading that the audience takes from a media text.
61
Mise-en-scene
- Literally ‘everything that is in the shot/scene’ in a single frame - Helps the audience to gain meaning from a scene
62
Narrative
- The way in which a story or sequence of events is put together in a media text - All media texts have some sort of narrative running through them.
63
Semiotics
- The use and study of sign, sign systems and their meanings, a.k.a semiology.
64
Sign
- Anything that expresses meaning is a sign | - E.g. written or spoken words, an image, a sound, a gesture or an item of clothing
65
Slogan
A catchy, eye-catching and memorable phrase, often used in advertising.
66
Strapline
- A cross-column subheading, usually found in newspapers, magazines and websites - Emphasises part of an article or advert.
67
Storyboard
- A visual representation and plan of how a moving image scene will be shot - Typically includes a sketch of each frame, camera movements, edits and timing, etc.
68
Teaser
A form of trailer that 'teases' the audience about a forthcoming film.
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