IB Lit midterm exam review

terms and rules

panel

framed image

splash

panel that spreads width of page

voice over

narrators have possibility to speak directly to the narrator

speech bubble

frames around characters’ language

style

drawing style, can be complex to simple, realistic to iconic, objective to subjective, specific to universal

graphic weight

the amount of contrast in an image

foreground

subject is point of focus for the reader, panel closet to the viewer

midground

subject is in the middle of a scene that is depicted

background

back of the space, offers context

transitions

moment to moment, action to action, subject to subject, scene to scene, aspect to aspect, non-sequitur

MASSAN

frame

lines and borders that contain the panels

gutter

space between framed panels

bleed

image that extends beyond the edge of the page

speech balloons

enclose dialogue and come from a specific speaker’s mouth

special-effects lettering

drawing attention to text

archival footage

historical recordings, photos, videos that provide context and authenticity to documentary’s subject

B-roll footage

supplementary visuals like locations, events, or activities

title cards and graphics

text-based graphics that provide information

caption

text that explains a photograph or graphic feature

close-up shot

the object or subject takes up most of the frame. It forces the viewer to look at what the director wants them to look at

confessional monologue

A direct to camera statement of a character in the film. In a documentary, this occurs in response to a particular event or action.

cut

An instantaneous change from one framing to another

diegetic sound

Sound which the characters can hear as well as the audience. Examples: voices of characters or sounds within the story

direct narration

We see and hear the narrator of the film as the narration is presented; suggests an intimacy between narrator and audience; this type of narration is seldom objective‑‑its biases reflect the speaker's background, conflicts, values, etc.

documentary

A film or TV program that documents reality by presenting the facts about a person or event

docuseries

A documentary that is telecast in a series of episodes

dolly shot

A shot in which the camera is on a track that allows it to move forward or backward with the action

duologue

a conversation between only 2 people

establishing shot

Used in filmmaking to set up the context for a scene by allowing the audience to see where it is taking place.

exposition

This occurs at the beginning and introduces the important themes of the film. It is important because it creates the viewer's first impression and introduces the viewer to the content.

eye level shot

A shot taken from a normal height; the most common angle

flashback

A scene or sequence that is inserted into a scene in "present" time and that deals with the past.

frame

A single picture or still shot that is one of many sequential images that make up video

high angle

The camera is above the subject. This usually has the effect of making the subject look smaller than normal, giving him or her the appearance of being weak, powerless, and trapped.

interview

It allows people being filmed to speak directly about events, prompted by the questions asked by the filmmaker. It may take place on screen, off screen, or on a different; gives the viewer a sense of realism and validity.

Ken Burns effect

An effect that pans and zooms over a still image ike a photograph or map.

long shot

A shot from some distance. If filming a person, the full body is shown. It may show the isolation or vulnerability of the character.

low angle

The camera films the subject from below. This usually has the effect of making the subject look larger than normal, and therefore strong, powerful, and threatening.

medium shot

The most common shot in which the camera seems to be a medium distance from the object being filmed. It shows the person from the waist up. The effect is to ground the story.

montage

A transitional sequence of rapidly edited images used to suggest a passing of time or events. It may be intended to elicit a strong emotional reaction on the part of the viewer.

non-diegetic sound

Sound which is represented as coming from a source outside the story space, i.e. its source is neither visible on the screen, nor has been implied to be present in the action.
Examples: Narrator's commentary, voice-over and soundtracks

pan

A stationary camera moves from side to side on a horizontal axis.

point of view

It is a shot which shows the scene from the specific perspective of one of the characters.

reconstruction

Filming actors as they recreate a true event (also called reenactment). This technique is controversial and should be clearly labeled.

shot

A single piece of film uninterrupted by cuts

subtitle

Text that clarifies spoken words

talking head

The image of a person who talks at length directly to the camera and usually appears on the screen with only the head and upper part of the body visible.

tilt

A stationary camera moves up or down along a vertical axis.

voice-over

A commentary spoken while the camera is filming or added to the soundtrack during the production. Through this the filmmaker can speak directly to the viewer, offering information, explanations, and opinions.

zoom

A stationary camera where the lens moves to make an object seem to move closer to or further away from the camera. With this technique, moving into a character is often a personal or revealing movement, while moving away distances the audience from the character.

framing

the method in which elements in a layout can be disconnected from or connected to each other

offer

term used when a figure 'gazes' at another object in the image encouraging us to look at that object, the viewer is a detached onlooker

gaze

where the figure in the image is looking

demand

when a figure in the image 'gazes' directly out of the page at the responder. This establishes a connection between subject and viewer

composition

a creator's arrangement of objects, color, contrast, space, light, etc.

vertical axis

to the left is known, right is unknown

horizontal axis

above is fantasy and positive elements, below is reality and negative elements

reading path

route through a visual text. It moves from the most salient to the least salient elements

ideal

top of the page; (in advertising) often contains the image

real

bottom of the page; (in advertising) often contains the information

salience

( focal points)- The element/s in an image which stand out and attract the viewer's attention

centrality

placing of the main object or figure in the middle of the image in order to make it the most significant element

rule of thirds

a compositional technique that suggests diving the image into 9 and placing the subject on one of those sides, instead of in the center

grid

an entire page of panels in a graphic novel

emanata

text or icons that represent what’s going on in the character’s head

icon

an image used to represent a person, place, thing, or idea

special effects lettering

a method of drawing attention to text; it often highlights onomatopoeia and reinforces the impact of words such as bang or wow

hue

actual color

tone

intensity of color

vector

directional lines in an image

transition

the process of closure in which the reader might fill the gaps between one panel and the next

anchoring

the process of making an image meaningful by adding words

logo

a symbol or design that serves to identify an organization or institution

alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds.

anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of the line of poetry

assonance

The repeated use of vowel sounds: "Old king Cole was a merry old soul."

cacophony

In poetry, the use of grating, harsh, inharmonious sounds

caesura

A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often (but not always) marked by punctuation

connotation

Everything other than the literal meaning that a word suggests or implies.

consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds within words (rather than at their beginnings)

couplet

A two-line stanza of poetry, usually rhymed

denotation

A word’s literal meaning.

diction

The words an author chooses to use.

end-stopped

A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation.

enjambment

In poetry, the use of successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them

euphony

Pleasing, harmonious sounds

free verse

A kind of poetry without a regular rhyme scheme, rhythm, or fixed metrical pattern.

irony

Writing or speaking that implies the contrary of what is actually written or spoken. Can be verbal, situational, or dramatic.

juxtaposition

Items placed side by side in a literary text, usually for contrast or comparison

line

basic unit of measurement in poetry

metaphor

A figure of speech that compares unlike objects without the use of "like" or "as"

mood

The emotional tone in a work of literature

parallelism

Repeated syntactical similarities used for effect.

persona

The eyes or voice or speaker of the poem; like a narrator in prose.

personification

A figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics in order to create imagery

poetry

literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style, compressed language, and rhythm

prose

written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure

quatrain

A stanza of poetry consisting of four lines

refrain

A line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem

rhyme

The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry