Multimodal Literacy Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the six patterns of development that you have learnt?
Problem/Solution
Classification/division
Cause/effect
Description
Comparison/contrast
Definition
What are the six semiotic modes?
Linguistic
Audio
Spatial
Oral
Visual
Gestural
What is the semiotic mode, linguistic and what is the effect that is produced?
Vocabulary simple vocabulary and run-on sentences—> authenticity, hearing the direct opinions of the people themselves
Sentences
Grammar items
Typography
Text Organization
Acronym: Very Silly Gorillas Type Text Obsessively
What is the semiotic mode of audio?
Music/sound atmosphere created by sound—- fast— upbeat, slow— slow down the pace and make people empathise for example
Sound Effects
Rhythm
Pace
Acronym: Monkeys sing really poorly
What is the semiotic mode of spatial?
Proximity between objects
Direction
Organisation in space
POV of camera
Close-up view
Medium shots
Setting
Props
Blocking
Acronym: Penguins Dance on Skates
What is the semiotic mode of oral?
Monologue talking to himself
Dialogue. 1 person talking to another
Conversation
Speech
The voice is not dubbed over can increase authenticity of their stories and the interviews and make it genuine and realistic.
Laughter—lively, optimistic, resilient
What is spoken?
How is it spoken?
Acronym: Mice discussing cheese secretly.
What is the semiotic mode of visual?
Colour —red vibrant colours that evoke excitement towards the food, symbolising the lively, diverse nature of the people.
Fire—use of fire to convey the danger that their jobs involve
Lines
Vectors
Viewpoints camera angles: bird-eye view
Lighting/colour
Costume/hair/makeup
Acronym: Crazy lizards vomit very loudly.
What is the semiotic mode of gestural?
Facial expression close-up shots of the peoples’ facial expressions
Body
Movements
Gestures
Body position
Acronym: Frogs Blink & Giggle Backwards
What are the types of shots?
Long shot
Medium Shot
Close-up shot
This is similar to the use of blocking. The type of shots directs your view. The shot is the building block of all filmmaking. It is a single, uninterrupted scene.
Acronym: Lion Munch Carrots
What is a long shot and what is the purpose of a long shot?
A long shot has a sufficient distance between the object and the camera in order to make the object appear to be small. This establishes the scene setting (make it expanse) and gives the viewer a sense of time and place. By showing distance or separation between characters and the surroundings, it shows the scale — the impact of what we are saying in this setting. It also shows how a character interacts with the surroundings.
What is a medium shot and what is the purpose of a medium shot?
A shot between long and close up
- from the waist to the head
This is the most naturalistic and common shots, therefore it is known as “neutral” shots. It makes it unobtrusive and comfortable since the camera is at the eye view. Furthermore, it adds realism to what you are looking at, which is illustrated in the movie “Forest Gump”.
What is a close-up shot and what is the purpose of a close-up shot?
A close-up shot is a shot of a face or an object that fills the screen up to 80% or more of the frame. This forces the viewer to look at the person’s emotions and is intimate, which reveals an intrusive atmosphere. This directs the viewer to a crucial detail such as their facial expression. Therefore, evoking a specific feeling or reaction from the viewer,
What are the types of camera angles and what does it mean?
Angle refers to where the camera is placed in relation to the subject in the shot.
- High angle
- Eye level
- Low angle
- Dutch angle
Acronym: Hippos Eat Lemons Daily
What are the types of camera movements and what does it mean?
Camera movements refers to how the camera moves in relation to the subject in the shot.
- Pan
- Tilt
- Zoom (in and out)
- Tracking/dolly
Acronym: Puppies Tickle Zebras together
What are the types of editing and what does it mean?
Editing:
- The camera angles, movements and mise en scene (the arrangement of the scenery, props, etc. on the stage of a theatrical production or on the set of a film. ) are parts of the shot, but the way the director and the editor put all the shots together to create a finished film in a separate process, and is called editing.
- Cut
- Fade (in and out)
- Dissolve
- Crosscut
- Flashback/Flash-forward
Acronym: Cats Fight Dragons, Then Flash Repeatedly
What is rhythm and duration?
How long each shot is permitted to stay on-screen before it gets replaced by another shot through one of the editing techniques we have discussed, and the pattern of the time between shots, can be used to create effects in films as well.
What are the key vocabularies for linguistic?
Key Vocabulary for Linguistic Mode
A. Textual Elements:
Lexis/Vocabulary: Word choice (formal, colloquial, technical).
Syntax: Sentence structure (complex, fragmented, repetitive).
Register: Tone (academic, conversational, polemical).
Typography: Font, size, color, emphasis (bold, italics).
Text organization: Paragraphs, captions, subtitles, placement on screen.
B. Rhetorical Devices:
Metaphor/Simile: “The city is a warzone.”
Repetition: Emphasizing key phrases.
Direct address: “You must act now.”
Jargon: Specialized terms (e.g., “climate resilience”).
C. Narrative Techniques:
Voiceover: Authoritative vs. personal narration.
Subtitles: Translated or preserved in original language.
Intertitles: Text screens (common in silent films/historical docs).
What are the key vocabularies for audio?
Key Vocabulary for Audio Mode
A. Music
Diegetic: Sound within the story world (e.g., radio playing).
Non-diegetic: External score (e.g., dramatic soundtrack).
Tempo: Fast (urgency), slow (melancholy).
Genre: Classical, electronic, ambient, etc.
Motif: Recurring musical theme tied to a character/idea.
B. Sound Effects (SFX)
Diegetic Sound
Definition: Sound that exists within the story world. Characters can hear it.
Non-Diegetic Sound
Definition: Sound added for the audience only. Characters cannot hear it.
Ambient: Background noise (e.g., wind, city hum).
Foley: Artificial sounds (e.g., footsteps, doors creaking).
Silence: Strategic absence of sound.
C. Rhythm & Pace
Cadence: Flow of speech/sounds (e.g., staccato vs. legato).
Pacing: Speed of audio cuts (e.g., rapid edits for chaos).
D. Voice/Speech
Timbre: Voice quality (raspy, soft, authoritative).
Volume: Whisper (intimacy) vs. shout (anger).
What are the key vocabularies for spatial?
Key Vocabulary for Spatial Mode
A. Proximity
Intimate distance: Close-ups (emotional intensity).
Social distance: Medium shots (conversational).
Public distance: Wide shots (isolation/scale).
B. Direction
Vectors: Lines guiding the eye (e.g., a pointing finger, road).
Screen edges: Framing tension (e.g., character trapped near the frame’s edge).
Dynamic vs. static: Movement (energy) vs. stillness (calm).
C. Organization in Space
Foreground/background: Hierarchy of importance.
Symmetry/asymmetry: Balance (order) vs. imbalance (chaos).
Negative space: Empty areas (loneliness/freedom).
Depth cues: Overlapping objects, perspective lines.
What are the key vocabularies for visual?
Key Vocabulary for Visual Mode
A. Composition & Framing
Rule of thirds: Dividing the frame into thirds for balance.
Foreground/midground/background: Layering to create depth.
Negative space: Empty areas to emphasize subjects.
Symmetry/asymmetry: Balance (harmony) vs. imbalance (tension).
B. Color & Lighting
Palette: Dominant colors (e.g., warm = comfort; cool = detachment).
High-key lighting: Bright, low-contrast (optimism).
Low-key lighting: Dark, high-contrast (mystery/danger).
Chiaroscuro: Extreme light/dark contrast (drama).
C. Lines & Vectors
Horizontal lines: Calm, stability.
Vertical lines: Power, grandeur.
Diagonal lines: Movement, conflict.
Leading lines: Direct the viewer’s eye (e.g., roads, fences).
D. Perspective & Focus
Shallow depth of field: Blurred background (isolation).
Deep focus: Everything sharp (detail-oriented).
High/low angle shots: Power dynamics (e.g., low angle = dominance).
E. Movement
Static shot: No movement (stability).
Tracking shot: Camera follows action (immersion).
Zoom: Quick focus shift (intensity).
What are the key vocabularies for oral?
Key Vocabulary for Oral Mode
A. Types of Oral Communication
Monologue: Extended speech by one person (e.g., narration, soliloquy).
Dialogue: Exchange between two or more characters.
Conversation: Informal, spontaneous verbal interaction.
Speech: Formal address to an audience (e.g., political rally, courtroom).
B. Vocal Features
Tone: Emotional quality (sarcastic, authoritative, melancholic).
Pace: Speed of delivery (rapid = urgency; slow = deliberation).
Volume: Loudness (shouting = anger; whispering = secrecy).
Pitch: High/low frequency (e.g., high pitch = excitement).
C. Rhetorical Devices
Repetition: Emphasizing key phrases.
Pauses: Strategic silence for impact.
Direct address: Speaking to the audience (breaking the fourth wall).
What are the key vocabularies for gestural?
- Key Vocabulary for Gestural Mode
A. Facial Expressions
Microexpressions: Brief, involuntary facial movements (e.g., eye twitch = anxiety)
Eye contact: Direct (confidence) vs. averted (deceit/shame)
Eyebrow movements: Raised (surprise), furrowed (anger)
B. Body Movements
Posture: Slumped (defeat) vs. upright (authority)
Proxemics: Personal space use (e.g., leaning in = intimacy)
Kinesics: Study of body language (e.g., crossed arms = defensive)
C. Gestures
Emblems: Culture-specific gestures (e.g., thumbs up)
Illustrators: Accompany speech (e.g., hand waves)
Adaptors: Self-touching (e.g., hair-twirling = nervousness)
D. Physical Interactions
Haptics: Touch communication (e.g., handshake = formality)
Mirroring: Subconscious imitation (builds rapport)
What are the key vocabularies for long shot, medium shot and close-up shot?
Formula for Effective Shot Analysis
“The [shot type/framing] + [specific visual detail] + [active verb] + [emotion/theme], therefore [impact on viewer/narrative].”
Examples with Anxiety Focus:
Close-ups:
“The extreme close-up of the protagonist’s darting eyes heightens anxiety, therefore forcing the audience to hyper-focus on their paranoia.”*
“The shaky handheld close-up on clenched fists amplifies tension, therefore mirroring the character’s unstable mental state.”*
Long Shots:
“The wide long shot of the empty hallway isolates the protagonist, therefore making their vulnerability palpable.”*
“The static long shot of the distant figure creates unease, therefore triggering anticipation of an unseen threat.”*
Framing:
“The character crammed into the left edge of the frame visually traps them, therefore mirroring their psychological imprisonment.”*
“The distorted fish-eye lens warps reality, therefore disorienting the viewer to match the protagonist’s panic.”*
medium shot—> adds realism
What are the key vocabularies for camera angles?
Camera Angle Vocabulary
- High Angle (Looking Down)
Diminishes: Makes subject appear small/weak
Overwhelms: Subject dominated by environment
Surveils: Suggests observation/control
Infantilizes: Renders subject childlike
Exposes: Reveals vulnerability
2. Low Angle (Looking Up)
Empowers: Grants subject authority
Monumentalizes: Treats subject as iconic
Intimidates: Creates viewer discomfort
Lionizes: Frames as heroic
Looms: Suggests impending threat
3. Eye Level (Neutral)
Neutralizes: Avoids power bias
Democratizes: Equalizes subjects
Witnesses: Simulates human observation
Aligns: Creates viewer identification
Immerses: Enhances realism
4. Dutch Angle (Tilted)
Disorients: Breaks visual stability
Destabilizes: Suggests psychological unease
Pathologizes: Implies mental disturbance
Electrifies: Heightens tension
Skews: Distorts normative perception
Transition Effects
Inverts: Reverses power dynamics
Collapses: Flattens hierarchy
Reorients: Shifts viewer allegiance
Weaponizes: Uses angle as narrative tool
Documentary Truth Claims
High: Objective overview
Low: Subjective intensity
Eye Level: Verité authenticity
Dutch: Subjective reality
