Brief Definition:

Image analysis is the way in which an audience ‘reads’ the meaning of a media text image.

One of the ways image analysis works is to look for meaning through signs and symbols suggested by the way a scene is set up and filmed.

Signs and symbols in media texts are polysemic which means they are open to many interpretations. The different possible meanings in media texts depend on two things. The first is the way the...

Brief Definition

Media language is the way in which the meaning of a media text is conveyed to the audience.

One of the ways Media Language works is to convey meaning through signs and symbols suggested by the way a scene is set up and filmed.

Signs and symbols in media texts are polysemic which means they are open to many interpretations. The different possible meanings in media texts depend on two things. The first is the way the signs and...

Media Studies isn’t easy to describe. It’s a living concept that continues to change just as technology and our experience with technology change. The purpose of Media Studies is to provide audiences with access to information no matter how it is experienced and allow people to adopt diverse critical positions.

Media Studies is desirable because its curriculum is inclusive; it recognises that the form of delivery as well as the content to be...

Studying media is about watching, reading, discussing and evaluating media texts such as films, television and radio programmes, newspapers and magazines, and advertisements.

An important aspect of Media Studies is evaluating (this is called ‘reading’) a media text to find out what it is trying to say to the audience, and how that message is being communicated. The first AS module is usually known as ‘Reading the media’.

In the course...

Trollied is a Situation Comedy set in a fictional supermarket, Valco in the north-west, specifically Warrington in Cheshire. It is broadcast on a Monday night at 9pm and more unusually it is on Sky 1 (it is rare for Sky 1 to commission programmes from the Sitcom genre). Trollied is repeated immediately after on Sky 2 at 10pm. In its classic 30 minute format it follows some genre conventions but offers post watershed representations.

The...

When you are teaching students how to edit, there a few things that you need to consider. Firstly what you will want them to edit - usually, moving image and audio. You will therefore need the things which go with this. In this guide, you will be able to find out about the best editing software for your budget, top tips and more.

Hardware

You will obviously need access to computers. When students are editing, it can take more than a few...

Editsense & Filmsense

What is Editsense?

‘Editsense is a new approach to learning about film language and film-making’.

This is an interactive DVD with excellent, practical examples of film - perfect for teachers of moving image, be it English, Creative and Digital Media or Film Studies.

It has over fifty video examples and includes materials for the introduction and revision of film. 

What does it include?

It includes video examples of...

H140

• G321 Foundation Portfolio in Media (50%) and G322 Key Media Concepts (50%)
• G322 Section A: TV Drama (52%) and Section B: Film Industry (50%) - 32 Week Scheme of Work

Overview

• OCR A Level Media Studies Overview

Scheme

• OCR AS Media Studies SOW 2011-2014.doc

Concepts

• Media Language, Forms and Conventions (Media Language, Representation, Genre, Narrative)
• Film Industry Institution
• TV Drama and Representation
• Research, Planning and...

Denotation and Connotation

These are two important words concerned with the way an audience understands the meaning of a media text. These can also be called the signs and signified meaning, or the micro and macro features.

Denotation / sign / micro feature is the basic, literal meaning of what is in the picture or scene.

Connotation / signified meaning / macro feature means different interpretations suggested by the text, often associated...

Associated Resources

• Semiotics Glossary.doc

Anchorage

The fixing of a set of meanings, often found in a photograph or advert, usually through captions or other written text

Arbitrary Sign

Where the signifier has no connection to the signified e.g. Snow and Christmas

Codes

A system of signs, languages or symbols that allow audiences to decode meaning e.g. Technical and Symbolic codes or Narrative codes

Content Analysis

A way of decoding...

Associated Resources

• Moving Image Terminology and Semiotics.doc

Semiotics/Semiology

The study of signs that help us to deconstruct Media Texts

Signifier/Denotation

The physical form of the sign, without deeper meaning

Signified/Connotation

Meaning associated with the relationship between signifier and signified. Connotation is open to interpretation

Mythical Connotation

Meaning which is subjective interpretation, yet untrue

Anchored...

The rights to broadcast this years showpiece sporting tournament is in the hands of two national mainstream television channels: BBC and ITV.

The Football World Cup in South Africa 2010 will command many hours from both BBC and ITV primetime television slots from 11th of June – 11th of July. Games will be shown at 12.30, 17.00 and 19.30.

Programs will no doubt contain many hours of build up, the game itself, half time replays of highlights...

Technical Language of Moving Image - Year 9 - Complete Student Sheet

Camera Shots

Establishing Shot - ES - Establishes where, when and who of a sequence of film.

Long Shot - LS - The subject being filmed can be seen from head to foot in their surroundings.

Mid/medium Shot - MS - Classic newsreader shot. A person can be seen from the waist upwards. We can still see some of the setting.

Close Up - CU - The subject fills the screen. We cannot...

Technical Language of Moving Image - Year 9 - Student Sheet

Camera Shots

Establishing Shot - ES ........................................................................................

Long Shot - LS ........................................................................................

Mid/medium Shot - MS ........................................................................................

Close Up - CU...

Technical Language of Moving Image - Year 8 - Student Sheet

Lighting

There are 3 types of lighting:

Key light - can be artificial light or the sun. It creates shadows in the shot to make it look like the light is coming from a particular light source.

Back light - the subject is lit from behind and usually from above, it throws the subject into silhouette. Back light creates atmosphere and mystery.

Practical - any light source that is part...

Technical Language of Moving Image - Year 8

See Year 7 sheet for explanations of basic shots, angles and movements.

Camera Shots

Establishing Shot - ES

Long Shot - LS

Mid/medium Shot - MS

Close Up - CU

Big/Extreme Close Up - BCU/ECU

Point of View Shot - POV
The shot is from a character’s Point-of-view, as if you are seeing things through their eyes. It helps the audience to identify with the character.

Over the Shoulder Shot
The shot...

Main/basic effects in italics under name to be used in plenary

Camera Shots

Establishing Shot - ES - Establishes where, when and who of a sequence of film.

Lets the audience know who the shot is about and where and when they are.

Long Shot - LS - The subject being filmed can be seen from head to foot in their Surroundings.

Shows where someone or something is. Can make someone seem small, lonely and vulnerable.

Mid/medium Shot - MS -...

These quizzes are best viewed in Firefox.

Firefox is an excellent alternative to Internet Explorer which is available free for both PCs and Macs.

Blockbusters Media Language Quiz.ppt

Connotation Denotation Worksheet.doc

Language Persuasive Writing Checklist.pdf

Media Language Blockbusters Quiz.ppt

Media Language Connotation and Denotation.ppt

Media Language Evaluation Writing Frame.doc

Media Language Flash Cards.doc

Media Language Glossary.doc

Media Language Mise En Scene.ppt

Media Language Paragraph Analysis Frame.doc

Media Language Persuasion Checklist.doc

Media Language Shot...

Aber.ac.uk on The Grammar of TV & Film

BFI Media Glossary

Changingminds.org on Interpellation

Media Awareness Network A Glossary of Terms

Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences

Media History.com Find out about developments in the media through history.

Media in the USA - Global Issues

National Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire

TV-Ark.org.uk The Online Television Museum

Dafont.com

Flamingtext.com An excellent place to find some sophisticated and unique fonts to help you create impressive artefacts.

Media & Film Studies Dictionary

FreeDictionary.com A free online dictionary, thesaurus and much more.

Creative Archive Pilot

Creative Commons Licence

Intellectual Property Office on Copyright

Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)

FACT Federation Against Copyright Theft

BBFC.org.uk Find out about film certification and censorship using this site.

SBBFC.org.uk Students’ British Board of Film Classification This site is aimed at media and film studies students and teachers covering the topics of Media Regulation and Censorship in the UK. The site was designed and is maintained by the British Board of Film Classification.

TMAP.org.uk Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel The Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (...

4Cs Yound & Rubicam’s Consumer Characterisation Site

Y&R’s Cross Cultural Consumer Characterisation (4Cs for short) is a consumer segmentation that ‘characterises’ people into recognisable stereotypes that reflect the operation of each of a set of well-known human motivations: comprising SECURITY, CONTROL, STATUS, INDIVIDUALITY, FREEDOM, SURVIVAL and ESCAPE.

Emap Insight & Data

Mediaed.org on Audience Theory

BARB Broadcasters Audience...

If your Media Studies production is an audio visual piece then it will most likely involve the use of some music.  This might be in the background of an advert, to make a film trailer more exciting, or as the focus of a music video.

What you need to remember is that even though it’s incredibly easy to download music and sound effects from the Internet, it’s not always a good idea to use those files in your media production.

In this article,...

Media Studies isn’t easy to describe. It’s a living concept that continues to change just as technology and our experience with technology change. The purpose of Media Studies is to provide audiences with access to information no matter how it is experienced and allow people to adopt diverse critical positions.

Media Studies is desirable because its curriculum is inclusive; it recognises that the form of...

Editsense & Filmsense

What is Editsense?

‘Editsense is a new approach to learning about film language and film-making’.

This is an interactive DVD with excellent, practical examples of film - perfect for teachers of moving image, be it English, Creative and Digital Media or Film Studies.

It has over fifty video examples and includes materials for the introduction and revision of film. 

What does it...