Handout 6 Media and Information Languages
Handout 6 Media and Information Languages
Handout 6 Media and Information Languages
CONTENT STANDARD
The learners demonstrate an understanding of why there is a need for information, and identify how to locate, access,
assess, organize and communicate that information.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learners shall be able to examine and identify pertinent media and information codes, conventions, and messages
given a visual resource.
LEARNING COMPETENCIES: The Learners…
Evaluate everyday media and information presentations regarding codes, convention, and message; and how they
affect the audience, producers, and other stakeholders (MIL11/12TYM-IIIf-15)
Produce and assess the codes, conventions, and messages of a group presentation ( MIL11/12TYM-IIIe-16)
TERMS TO UNDERSTAND…
LANGUAGE – pertains to the technical and symbolic ingredients or codes and conventions that media and information
professionals may select and use in an effort to communicate ideas, information, and knowledge.
MEDIA LANGUAGES – codes, conventions, formats, symbols, and narrative structures that indicate the meaning of media
messages to an audience.
GENRE
Comes from the French word “type” or “class”
Can be recognized by its common set of distinguishing features (codes and conventions)
CODES
System of signs that creates meaning when put together.
THREE TYPES:
o SYMBOLIC CODES
Show what is beneath the surface of what we see (objects, setting, body language, clothing, color,
etc. ) or iconic symbols that are easily understood.
Include the language, dress or actions of characters.
Examples: a red rose may be used symbolically to convey romance, or a clenched fist as anger, traffic
signs and symbols.
o WRITTEN CODES
Use of language style and textual layout
Examples: headlines, captions, speech bubbles, language style, etc)
o TECHNICAL CODES
Are ways in which equipment is used to tell the story
Include sound, camera angles, types of camera shots and movements, as well as lighting, camera
techniques, framing, depth of field, exposure, and juxtaposition.
TYPES OF CAMERA SHOTS
BASIC CAMERA SHOTS
a. EXTREME LONG SHOTS
Also called extreme wide shots such as a large crowd scene or a view as far as
the horizon.
b. LONG SHOT
A view of a situation or setting from a distance
c. MEDIUM LONG SHOT
Intermediate between Full shot and Medium shot. Shows subject from the knees
up.
d. FULL SHOT
Frames character from head to toes, with the subject roughly filling the frame.
The emphasis tends to be more on action and movement rather than a
character’s emotional state.
e. MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT
Shows part of the subject in more detail. For a person, a medium close shot
typically frames them from about waist up.
f. CLOSE UP SHOT
A full-screen shot of a subject’s face showing the finest nuances of expression.
g. EXTREME CLOSE UP SHOT
A shot of a hand, eye, mouth, or any object in detail.
POINT OF VIEW
a. ESTABLISHING SHOT
Often used at the beginning of a scene to indicate the location or setting.
Usually a long shot taken from a neutral position.
b. POINT-OF-VIEW-SHOT
Shows a scene from the perspective of a character or one person,
Most newsreel footages are shown from the perspective of the newscaster.
c.OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT
Often used in dialogue scenes, a frontal view of a dialogue partner from the
perspective of someone standing behind and slightly to the side of the other
partner, so that parts of both can be seen.
d. REACTION SHOT
Shot of a character’s response to an action.
e. INSERT SHOT
A detail shot which quickly gives visual information necessary to understand
the meaning of a scene.
f. REVERSE-ANGLE SHOT
A shot from the opposite perspective
g. HAND-HELD CAMERA SHOT
The camera is not mounted on a tripod but is held by the cameraperson,
resulting in less stable shots.
TYPES OF CAMERA ANGLES
a. AERIAL SHOT
Overhead shot
Also called the Bird’s Eye Shot
Long or extreme long shot of the ground from the air
b. HIGH-ANGLE SHOT
Shows people or objects from above higher than eye level
c. LOW-ANGLE SHOT
Below shot
Shows people or objects from below lower than eye level.
d. EYE-LEVEL SHOT
Straight-on angle
Views a subject from the level of a person’s eye
TYPES OF CAMERA MOVEMENTS
a. PAN SHOT
The camera pans (moves horizontally) from left to right or vice versa across the picture.
b. TILT SHOT
The camera tilts up (moves upwards) or tilts down (moves downward) around a
vertical line.
c. TRACKING SHOT
The camera follows along next to or behind a moving object or person
d. ZOOM IN OR ZOOM OUT
The stationary camera approaches a subject by zooming in or moves farther
away by zooming out.
CONVENTION
Refers to a standard or norm that acts as a rule governing behavior
Generally established and accepted ways of doing something.
Example is on Conventions of an Action movie. It is normal to see the following:
o Guns, explosions, bombs, car chase, blood, wounds, anger, tattoos, fighting, muscle men,
attractive/sexy actress, shooting, slow motion, rage, money, gangs, dramatic music, murder, killing,
fast pace editing,
MESSAGE
An important idea that someone is trying to express in a book, movie, or speech.
AUDIENCE
The group of consumers for whom the media message was constructed as well as anyone else who is exposed to the message .
The people who watch, read, or listen to something.
PRODUCERS
People engaged in the process of creating and putting together media content to make a finished media product
STAKEHOLDERS
Libraries, archives, museums, internet, and other relevant information sources and providers.
Prepared by:
MA. CHARISMA ANGELYNNE S. LIM
MIL Teacher
EXAMPLES OF SYMBOLIC CODES