Language Flashcards

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
Q

Long Shot

A

Frames character from the top of their head to toe whilst capturing their environment.

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26
Q

Low Angle Shot

A

Shot from a lower point and shoots up at the character.

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27
Q

Two-Shot

A

Medium shot that shows two characters within the frame.

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28
Q

Extreme Long Shot (XLS)

A

Identifies the key signifiers: characters and setting.

29
Q

Genre

A

A category or type of media product.

30
Q

Hybrid genre

A

Derived from two or more genres to create a new category.

31
Q

Anchorage

A

Copy that anchors an image and its meaning.

32
Q

Antagonist

A

In a plot, a character whose function is to disrupt the protagonist. Often, but not always, a villain.

33
Q

Archetype

A
  • An original on which many copies are based
  • Often used in relations to characters in fictional works
  • E.g. the mother, rebel, villain
34
Q

Binary opposition

A
  • 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
Q

Brand

A

A type of product that is marketed and manufactured under a particular logo, name, and design.

36
Q

By-line

A

The printed line of text in a newspaper/magazine that names the writer of an article.

37
Q

Code

A
  • A communication system which includes signs, rules and shared understanding.
  • E.g. the English language, non-verbal codes, print codes and editing codes.
38
Q

Colour palette

A

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
Q

Connotation

A
  • 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
Q

Cover price

A

The price printed on the cover of a printed media text.

41
Q

Cross-head

A

Words used as a title or sub-heading to break up text in a newspaper or magazine.

42
Q

Cross-cut

A

An editing technique used to establish that action is occurring at the same time.

43
Q

Conventions

A
  • 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
Q

Copy

A

The written material, as opposed to images, that features in a media text.

45
Q

Cut

A

The written material, as opposed to images, that features in a media text.

46
Q

Date line

A

A line that shows the date that a media publication/article was written/first published.

47
Q

Desktop publishing

A
Desktop Publishing (DTP) software allows the user to create printed media texts with various page layouts and
designs.
48
Q

Digital (platform)

A

Digital media is any media that can be created, viewed and distributed digital devices.

49
Q

Diegetic sound

A

Actual sound from the world of the film, whether on or off screen.

50
Q

Non-diegetic sound

A
  • 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
Q

Editing

A

A post-production technique – any arranging, revising and preparing of written, audio or video content to get the piece ready for audience consumption.

52
Q

Editorial

A

An article in a newspaper or magazine that expresses an opinion on a topical issue.

53
Q

Enigma

A

A question, mystery or clue that is not immediately resolved which draws the audience in.

54
Q

Flashback

A

A scene in a moving image that is set in an earlier time than the main story.

55
Q

Font

A

The style and size of text characters on the printed page or screen.

56
Q

Headline

A

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
Q

Intertextuality

A

Often media texts make references to other texts and popular culture to interest and engage the audience.

58
Q

Logo

A

The visual image used to identify a product, brand or company.

59
Q

Masthead

A

A publication’s name or title in a distinctive form usually placed at the top of the front page or cover page.

60
Q

Message

A

The expected reading that the audience takes from a media text.

61
Q

Mise-en-scene

A
  • Literally ‘everything that is in the shot/scene’ in a single frame
  • Helps the audience to gain meaning from a scene
62
Q

Narrative

A
  • 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
Q

Semiotics

A
  • The use and study of sign, sign systems and their meanings, a.k.a semiology.
64
Q

Sign

A
  • 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
Q

Slogan

A

A catchy, eye-catching and memorable phrase, often used in advertising.

66
Q

Strapline

A
  • A cross-column subheading, usually found in newspapers, magazines and websites
  • Emphasises part of an article or advert.
67
Q

Storyboard

A
  • 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
Q

Teaser

A

A form of trailer that ‘teases’ the audience about a forthcoming film.