Codes and conventions
What are codes?
Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic.
Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic.
Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions show you how the character is feeling.
Some codes fit both categories – music for example, is both technical and symbolic.
What are conventions?
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.
How codes and conventions apply in media studies
Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
For example, the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense – an integral part of any horror movie.
In this easy i will be looking at the codes and conventions of newspapers. firstly what are codes? codes are signs on a newspaper to create a form of meaning to the print it is also normally repeated on every issue giving each issue of a paper a unique feel even if it follows the style of every other previous issue. to continue i will be explaining what the majority of the codes are within a cover of a news paper.
One of these codes is called a splash. A splash is the main story it will generally have a main image and a headline accompanying it so the viewer understands what is happening in the image . the image will generally cover the majority of the news paper front cover. this is because it will draw in the audience by visually showing what the paper is going to be about. an example of this would be on the cover on the Wednesday the 7th 2012 issue of the sun there is a large image of Barack Obama to accompany the headline.
a master head is the the title or/ the main title in the case of the sun issue to the left the master head is the large text saying "THE SUN" the head master is put on newspaper so the viewer know what the paper in this case it is an issue of the sun and the master head will tell the viewer this. the masthead is designed to draw attention to it this is so the viewer will instantly be drawn to it as it is the papers brand.
A pug is the promotional or special offer featured in the paper it is almost always in the top right hand side of the paper it may feature a deal, unique price or something featuring in the newspaper or magazine. an example of this would be in the issue of the sun to the left their is a "ripper cops Savile quiz" This is featured to try and sell the news paper and make it unique to other issues.
A strap line is another headline but it is smaller then the head line it is designed to give more information about the main story, an example of this would be the copy of the Daily Express to your right has a strap line of "Massive boost as Labour won't stand in the way" This gives more information to the head line explaining it more and interesting the viewer even more (the head line draws the viewer in and the strap line keeps the reader reading.)
- head line- photograph
= by line
= caption
= cross head
codes are normally classified in two ways technical as in something factual. or a symbol for example in the sun the actual name is completely irrelevant to the articles in the newspapers and a newspaper, but it is a symbol of the paper because people relate the word to the paper.
semiotics
the study of signs
example is road signs
greek semeiotikos
underlines all forms of communications from facial to clothes and film.
denotations. is a list e.g. a heart musle pump blood
connotations feellsing e.g. heart love romance
an i con is a singifeir resembling something
index a factual or casual connection towards something such as smoke means their was fire.
a symbol. a basic relationship that is learned from such a the word cat should represte a cat isnted of a tree. and a cross would be related to christainity (a symbol of it)
For Codes and Conventions discuss the newspaper key terms with some reference to the purpose of why they have been made that way, for example both papers have Headlines, and titles in the same place but both are very different.
ReplyDeleteYou need to explain in detail how media products are constructed to appeal to the audiences they are intended for, illustrating points made with well-focused, detailed examples, and drawing out examples precisely that shows the point you are making.