Media Language

Key concepts of Media

Used in print (copy)

Specific to genre and audience

Also used in silent films

Written

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Used in films/radio/television

Choice, delivery and context are important

Ex: television news anchor will have a serious dialect

Comedy genre artist will have sloppy dialect

Verbal

Video…

Defined in terms of body language, gestures, stance and mannerisms.

Meaning portrayed through how the character uses his body

Silent movies are good examples

Non-verbal

Technical areas such as camera work, mise-en-scene and analytical readings.

What you see and interpret

Point of view shot may be directed to place the audience as a viewer to feel what the character goes though.

Visual

Study of signs.

Denotation : obvious meaning in the media (simply what is seen physically).

Connotation: the meaning derived from that element (ex: cross connotes many meanings).

Semiotics

Include a mixture of sounds to generate meaning.

Diegetic sound: natural sound/spoken language.

Non-diegetic: soundtrack/created sound.

Aural

Video…