Key Concepts of Media Studies Media forms and

Key Concepts of Media Studies Media forms and conventions

Form � Form can be explained in relation to the shape or skeleton of a text and in this way is often linked to the narrative � Stories have forms � Forms of soap operas: continuous, multi-stranded storylines, individual episodes frequently ending with a cliffhanger � Micro elements of text: mise-en-scene, editing, cinematography and sound

Think… � What are the forms of: Action films? Horror films? Chick flicks? What usually happens in the story structure? ?

Style � Distinctive look of the media text � Ex: individual style of a particular director � Distinctive use of mise-en-scene, lighting, music, camera angles, movement, framing, editing.

Guess! � Tim Burton style (charlie and the chocolate factory, corpse bride, etc)

� Alfred Hitchcock (vertigo, psycho, etc)

� Steven Speilberg (Jurassic park, jaws, etc)

Genre � A category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content � In media terminology it can be judged by the codes, conventions, mise-en-scene and the style of the media content � Texts from different mediums may belong to the same genre (e. g. a TV programme like Dr Who and a comic book like The Incredible Hulk can both be categorized as Science Fiction. )

� Genre does not rely simply on what's in a media text but also on the way it is put together (constructed). This can be important, for example, when distinguishing between a horror movie and a thriller, which can deal with similar subject matter, and look the same — lots of action set at night — but belong to separate genres (a horror film takes the audience into a supernatural place, where a thriller sticks to reality).

Deduce

Conventions � The characteristic ‘ingredients’ of a particular genre and the elements which make it recognizable can be defined as ‘conventions’. � The provide a common link to a group of films/drama/etc. � Ex: soap operas will contain rolling storylines, recognizable characters and consistent settings. They tackle social issues and have series of episodes. Horror: females confronting the evil

Further reading �http: //www. slideshare. net/andywallis/media- language-6842843