Analysing Media Texts Technical Codes in Moving Image

Analysing Media Texts

Technical Codes in Moving Image

Codes are signs within a media text that give clues to a text’s meaning. The reason why a particular code has been used is its purpose and the effect is the way the audience will react to the use of the code.

For example A close up (CODE) of a person’s watering eyes will show the character’s feelings (PURPOSE) and will make the audience feel some kind of emotion (EFFECT).

Camera shots and angles EWS (Extreme Wide Shot) The view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible. Often used as an establishing shot. VWS (Very Wide Shot) The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing him in his environment. WS (Wide Shot) The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible. AKA: long shot MS (Mid Shot) Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject. MCU (Medium Close Up) Half way between a MS and a CU. CU (Close Up) A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame. ECU (Extreme Close Up) The ECU gets right in and shows extreme detail. Two-Shot A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot. Point-of-View Shot (POV) Shows a view from the subject's perspective. High Angle (HA) Looks down on the subject making it appear small or insignificant. Low Angle (LA) Looks up at the subject making appear large and dominant. Task Take digital photographs to illustrate each of these shots. Lay them out on a page, it could be a webpage or a page in a textbook. Add the supplementary text underneath each one. Give your work a title. You can work individually or in pairs.

Editing is the way in the shots are put together to create a text. When we talk about editing we can describe the pace which is the speed at which one shot changes to another, and the transition between the shots which is how one shot changes to another. A quick editing pace may suggest action and might be seen during a car chase, a slow editing pace could be to build up tension or create an enigma. The main transitions would be a cut, whereby one shot is instantly replaced by another one, a dissolve whereby one shot slowly ‘mixes’ in to the next and a fade where a shot is gradually replaced by a colour. There are other editing techniques which you need to know, carry out your own research to find out about the following; match cut cross cut jump cut elliptical editing invisible editing subliminal editing short cut Make sure you are able to identify and explain the techniques when you see them in moving image texts. Present your research as a Power. Point presentation, aim to embed or link video clips to illustrate what you find.

Camera Movement TOP SIDE TOP CRAB - LEFT & RIGHT DOLLY - IN & OUT PAN - LEFT & RIGHT SIDE ELEVATE SIDE ZOOM - IN & OUT (THE CAMERA ITSELF DOES NOT MOVE, ONLY THE LENS) TILT - UP & DOWN DEPRESS