THE CONCEPTS ELABORATED

 

Another important part of media studies is how forms and languages are used to convey the products of media and its use of codes and conventions that helps it. These include different signs  and symbols to create meaning to something.  The most important of them is codes which are used in media and these are actually the connotations to the audience. 
 

Initially there are two categories of codes that you'll find in media, one is the technical code and the other is the symbolic code. Technical codes includes all the equipment used to tell a story in a media text and includes camera techniques, framing, depth of field and exposure. Whereas symbolic codes on the other hand show whats beneath the surface of what we see for instance objects, setting, body language, clothing and color. 

Other categories of codes include the written codes and the audio codes. The written codes as the label itself says, is the formal written language on a media product for example headlines, captions, speech bubbles, language and style. Whereas audio codes are only concerned about all that is heard for instance background voice, voice overs, etc. 

Talking about conventions now, these are basically in short the laid out generalised rules of media. We'll see these generalised rules often utilised in the media products we see so that the desired audience can comprehend what kind of genre they are being shown. Genre is all about categorising a media product. Examples include thriller, mystery, romance, crime etc. 

Finally when the genre is set and all other codes and conventions have been thought of about, then comes the concept of representation, which talks about aspects like ethnicity, religion, gender and sexuality, traditions and beliefs to be specific. 

To represent a product, it should start with an ideology too, a philosophy behind it. A thought the maker is attempting to project to the world, the principle motivation behind the media item's presence.

Lastly all this is wrapped up by concluding with the narrative. This is the completed story or the plot that the respective media product desires to deliver and convey to the audience.