Codes and conventions
A media Convention is what the viewer would expect to see in a specific genre. These do not have to be in the film, but it is likely that they will be.
A media Code is a certain effect or event that indicates that something is going to happen.
Musical
Conventions:
Dancing
Songs
Upbeat feel
Medium shots of people dancing and singing
Costumes
Non Diegetic instruments
Codes:
Smooth slow music means that there could be a romantic scene coming up.
Upbeat fast music suggests that a character is happy or has achieved something.
Action
Conventions:
Guns
Chase scenes
Vehicles
Damsel in distress
Crane shots over fight scenes
Death
Codes:
Silence could suggest that a burst of action is about to happen.
Weather of the scene could show the characters emotions.
Spy
Conventions:
Guns
Gadgets
Suits
Girls
Violence
Revenge
Stealth
Codes:
Eerie music suggests that something bad is about to happen.
Non diegetic music shows how the main character is feeling at the time.
You could improve the presentation of your material by using graphics to identify genres in an engaging visual way. You could also employ an online media tool such as Prezi to present an objective of this kind. This would allow you to annotate graphics and integrate video in your analysis.
ReplyDeleteYour paraphrasing of what is meant by the media specific term “convention” is reasonably good, and you provide a limited list of conventions for each of the three genres you’ve chosen to detail, musical, action and spy films.
You do not explore technical codes at work. Extending your definition of the phrasal term “media code”, you could explore how codes build atmosphere, evoke feelings and emotions, communicate important information to the viewer and create meaning.
Key area for development: anchor yourself with a specific moving image extract and explore how technical elements such as CAMERA, SOUND, MISE-EN-SCÈNE, EDITING or SPECIAL EFFECTS (which may also be conventions of the genre) are used to: communicate with / manipulate / engage the audience; and lead the audience to understand / think / feel / expect certain things.
Satisfactory and good in parts. E+