Creating Media

Visual Codes

Visual Codes

Elements such as camera shots, angles, lighting, color schemes, and mise-en-scène used in media to convey meaning and create specific atmospheres.

Technical Codes

Techniques like editing, special effects, sound design, and typography employed to assemble shots, enhance storytelling, and affect aesthetics in media products.

Audio Codes

Components like music, dialogue, sound effects, and voiceovers utilized to set tones, convey plot, and enhance realism in media.

Written Codes

Aspects including headlines, captions, speech bubbles, and written narratives used in media to provide context, summarize content, and indicate dialogue.

Semiotic Analysis

Involves denotation, connotation, and signifier/signified concepts to analyze the explicit and associated meanings of signs in media.

Choice of Elements

Involves selection, combination, and exclusion of media language elements to construct narratives, portray reality, and convey messages.

Influences on Meaning

Factors like creating narratives, portraying reality, constructing viewpoints, and conveying messages that influence how audiences interpret media products.

Technology and Media Language

Explores the relationship between technological advancements and the interpretation of media, including impacts on meaning and interactivity.

Generic Conventions

Covers codes and conventions related to genres, stylistic elements, establishment of styles, and cross-media conventions in media products.

Intertextuality

Focuses on references, remakes, shared universes, and audience interpretation of intertextual elements in media products.

Media Representations

Discusses mediation, framing, agenda setting, bias, narrative construction, symbolic representation, and the choices media producers make in representing events, social groups, and ideas.

Mediation

refers to the process through which media creators interpret, select, and shape reality.

Narrative Construction

Media shapes public perception by highlighting certain narratives, using specific language, and employing particular imagery. This constructed reality can influence public opinion and societal norms.

Symbolic Representation

The use of symbols and metaphors to convey complex ideas. For example, the Statue of Liberty is often used in media to symbolize freedom and democracy.

Gatekeeping

The process through which information is filtered for dissemination, with media producers acting as gatekeepers who decide what is newsworthy.

Narrative Techniques

The use of storytelling techniques to construct and present chosen elements, such as character development and plot structure.

Intermediary Role

Media acts as an intermediary between reality and the audience, shaping perceptions through selective representation.

Stereotypes

Examines the functions, uses, establishment, and variation of stereotypes in media, including their simplification, reinforcement, and impact on audience understanding.

Themes and Ideologies

Explores the representation of viewpoints, messages, values, and beliefs in media, including conveying ideologies, reinforcement across media products, and social, cultural, and political significance.

Theoretical Perspectives on Gender and Representation

Considers feminist approaches, challenging stereotypes, intersectionality, and the portrayal of gender in media from diverse perspectives.

Intersectional Analysis

Highlights the complex realities of individuals navigating multiple systems of oppression and privilege.

Demographic Targeting

Tailoring media products based on age, gender, income, and education levels of the audience.

Psychographic Targeting

Tailoring media content to specific lifestyles, interests, values, and attitudes of the target audience.

Behavioral Targeting

Using data on purchase history and media consumption habits to target specific consumer groups.

Geographic Targeting

Focusing media content on local or global audiences based on regional relevance.

Niche Audiences

Small, specialized groups with specific interests catered to by niche media products.

Mass Audiences

Large, diverse groups with broad interests targeted by mass-market media products.

Distribution Channels

Traditional and digital platforms used to reach audiences with media content.

Data Analytics

Collection and analysis of user data to understand audience behavior and preferences.

Social Media

Platforms enabling direct interaction, audience insights, and viral marketing for media products.

Content Personalization

Customizing content through recommendation algorithms and tailored experiences for users.

Engagement Metrics

Metrics like view counts, likes, comments, and watch time used to measure audience engagement.

Polysemy

Media texts having multiple meanings based on audience background and context.

Reception Theory

Different ways audiences interpret media content - preferred, negotiated, and oppositional readings.

Uses and Gratifications Theory

How audiences use media for diversion, personal relationships, personal identity, and surveillance.

Social and Individual Differences

Cultural background, personal experience, social context, and identity factors influencing media interpretation.