BMAS 102 – Research Assignment  Symbolic Code – elements signifying a

deeper meaning, social in nature living

Types of Media Languages
outside the media product only understood by
Media language refers to the various methods the audience such as symbolism in Setting,
and elements used in media to communicate Mise-en-scène (Stage Production), Acting, and
meaning to an audience. It refers to how media is Color
conveyed and delivered for the audience to  Technical Code – methods and equipment
consume achieved through signs and symbols. Its used to manipulate images, color, and sound
is conveyed through media codes and including: camera work, audio/sound, lighting,
conventions. Five types of Media Language: and editing
 Written Language – printed text that  Written Code – written texts in media pieces
delivers information, emotion, and ideas to with elements such as: font style and size,
the audience captions, word choice, and emphasis
 Visual Language – images and colors in  Aural Code - this includes all sound
television or film delivering or contributing to elements, such as music, sound effects, and
the message/idea dialogue. The choice of music can significantly
 Aural Language – auditory elements such affect the emotional tone of a scene, while
as music, sound effects, and dialogue that sound effects can enhance realism or create
contribute to emotions and context, involves tension.
hearing: Diegetic and Non-diegetic Sound Media Conventions are the accepted practices
 Verbal Language – all forms of and standards that guide how codes are used to
communication, spoken or written, expressed communicate specific messages.
through words, involves listening and
 Form – expected ways types of media codes
understanding
to be arranged such as title in the beginning
 Non-verbal Language - body language,
of a movie or arrangement of sections in a
gestures, and facial expressions that
newspaper.
contribute to the communication of meaning
 Story/Narrative - dictate how stories are
beyond words
structured, such as having a clear beginning,
 Semiotics – study of signs and symbols,
middle, and end, or employing techniques like
discusses literal and potential meaning. Signs
flashbacks and foreshadowing.
and symbols in media are ‘polysemic’, open to
 Genre – the common use of elements such as
many interpretation.
stropes, plot, character, and setting for a
o Denotation – literal or obvious meaning,
particular genre. For example: horrors have
physical description that is seen or heard
jumpscares and while romantics offer happy
o Connotation – potential meaning,
endings.
symbolism
 Technical - standard practices in the use of
Diegetic and Non-diegetic Sound technical codes, such as specific camera
Sound is important because it engages angles or editing styles that are commonly
audiences: it helps deliver information, it associated with particular genres
increases the production value, it evokes Aural Media Codes and Conventions
emotional responses, it emphasises what’s on the
Aural Codes are specific elements used in media
screen and is used to indicate mood.
to create meaning, including:
 Diegetic Sound – Sound that can be heard
 Music – different genres of music are
by both the audience outside the film and the
associated with different emotions and
characters in the film. Examples are character
feelings that can contribute to the overall
dialogue and environmental sound effects.
impact of media; retro for period movies
 Non-diegetic Sound – Sound that can only
 Sound Effects – adds realism and emotional
be heard by the audience outside the film.
impact to a scene such as exaggeration in a
Examples are background music and enticing
comedy film or lazer souns in a sci-fi film.
sound effects.
 Dialogue - spoken words of characters
Media Codes and Conventions convey essential information and help
Media Codes and Conventions help the establish the genre, these include jargon
audience identify the theme or genre of a specific specific to the scenes such as in the hospital
piece of media and add to the emotions and feel for dramas or ones used during medieval
of that theme or genre. times for period movies
 Voiceover - involves narration that is not
Media Codes are symstems of signs that create directly linked to the visual elements on
meaning and are the building block of existing screen
media
Aural Conventions refer to the accepted  Preferred/Dominant Reading – the
practices and norms in the use of sound within interpretation of the audience aligns with the
media helping audiences to understand and original intended message of the producers of
interpret themes and ideas. the media
 Nagotiated Reading – audiences accepts
 Genre Specific Sounds – expected music or
some of the preferred reading but
soundtrack for specific genres, for example
incorporates some of their own reflection and
retro music for period movies
ideologies resulting in a more coplex
 Emotional Cues - use of music and sound
understanding
effects to cue emotional responses from the
 Oppositional Reading – audience
audience is a standard practice such as loud
completely rejects the preferred reading and
noises for jumpscares
contructs their own interpretation of the
 Narrative Structure - aural elements are
media based on their own experiences and
often structured to support the narrative flow,
social positions, this can occur when the
such as using silence to create tension or
media crosses the audiences values and
layering sounds to build a scene's atmosphere
beleifs
Denotative and Connotative Meaning of
Implication: The Reception Theory highlights
Sound
how media does not have a fixed meaning and it
 Denotative Meaning – the literal definition is up to the audience to interpret them, these
and objective characteristics of sound, in interpretation can be influences by the following:
meadia sound can be:
 Cultural Background: Individuals from
o Auditory Impression – sound is
different cultures may interpret the same
vribration that creates auditory
media text in diverse ways.
experiences, mechanical energy
 Social Context: Factors such as age, gender,
transmitted through waves in a medium
class, and personal experiences play a
o Types of Sound - various forms of sound
significant role in how media is decoded.
used in media, such as dialogue, music,
 Historical Context: The time period in which
sound effects, and ambient noises.
a media text is consumed can also affect its
 Connotative Meaning – sound involves
interpretation.
emotion and cultural association beyond
literal meaning. In media sound can be:
o Emotional Response – sound can elicit
feelings, for example a cheerful melody
elicits joy
o Symbolic Interpretation – sound can
carry symbolic meaning, a siren can hint
an emergency
o Cultural Significance – sound can have
different meaning through culture, for
example traditional music envokes
nostalgia while modern soundscapes
might represent contemporary life
Reception Theory
The reception theory was developed by Stuart
Hall in 1973, defining the process of
consumption of media and emphasized the active
role of the audience in its interpretation
 Encoding – the process of creating the piece
of media by producing, embedding it with
messages and themes based on their
ideology, cultural context, and intended
audience
 Decoding – refers to how the media is
perceived and interpreted by the audience, its
is not a passive process but rather audiences
continuesly engaging with th media relating it
to their own insights
Types of Reading – forms of acceptance by the
audience