Megan's Media Blog

What are the Codes and Conventions?

Remember, codes and conventions are the defending features of a Genre- they are what makes a media text what it is. With moving image texts (Tv shows and films) Codes and Conventions can be elements of:

• Mise-en-scene- Everything in the scene/frame props, costumes, setting, lighting, performance, facial expression and make up.
• Narrative/Structure-Story
• Setting
• Character
• Theme- Ideas/Morals explored
• Sound- Diegetic,in the world of the show.Non Diegetic, not in the world of the show.
• Cinematography- Camerawork.

 Textual Analysis

Textual Analysis is the process of breaking down a text into its various elements and studying them to analyse how meaning is created. When analysing moving image media (such as film or television) we must examine the following areas:

Camerawork (shots,angles,movements)

Editing (how shots have been put together)

Sound (both diegetic and non diegect)

Special Effects (if there are any)

Mise-en-scene (costume,make up, facial expression,props, setting, performance)

Wide Shot/ Establishing Short

Long Shot

3/4 Shot

Mid Shot

Medium Close up 

Close Up

Big Close up

Extreme Close up

Low- Camera looking up at subject,making it look bigger.

Canted- Camera is tilted to make subject look slanted.

High- Cameras looking down on subject making it look smaller.

Worms eye- Extreme low angle, camera very low looking up

Eye level -Camera is pointed directly at subject

Birds eye/Aerial- extreme high angle,looking straight down.

Point of view shot 

- Camera shoots from a character point of view.

Over the shoulder shot

-Camera shoot over a character shoulder.

Top 

Crab -The camera move sideways,like a crab does.

Pan -The camera stays in the same spot but pivots left or right.

Side

Tilt -The camera stays in the same spot but tilts up or down.

Dolly- Also known as tracking, the camera moves backwards or forwards.