TERM 1 NOTES 

SIGNS

Semiotics is the study of signs. Signs are made of 2 parts. Signifier and signifies. Signifier is the form we see, hear, touch etc. While signifies is the idea that the sign represents

SIGNIFIED

-Denotation   - common sense/obvious meaning

-Connotation - our own association

3 types of signs: 

- Icon

- Index

- Symbol

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CONVENTIONS

Conventions are the generally accepted way of doing things. Convention is what the audiences expect to see. 

CODES

Codes are a system of signs that create meaning. 

There are 2 types:

- Symbolic = acting, props, language.

- Technical = Sound, lighting, camera.

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REPRESENTATION

Represent refers to the construction (more than reflection) in any medium (tv, film etc) of aspects of reality (people, places, idea etc)
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SOUND

- Diegetic = What the characters can hear. 

- Non-Diegetic = What the characters cant hear. 

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MICRO-ELEMENTS

        SOUND                       CAMERA

        

        EDITING                    MIS-EN-SCENE

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GENRE

a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterised by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Stephen Neale said that genre is not a system, it is a process that evolves over time. Genres are instances of repetition and differences. 

Hybrid genre - is a mix of genres. 

Hollywoods' generic regime forms 2 interrelated functions. 

1- guarantees meaning and pleasure for the audience.

2 - to offset the considerable economic risks of film by providing cognitive collateral against innovation and differences.

Christian Metz

He explored the development of genre and suggested that genre passes through 4 phases of existence.




- Experimental - when early films helped to formalise convention.
- Classic - phase which establishes the narrative conventions of the genre in its most successful.
- Parody - films that have mimicked the genre in some commercial way.
- Deconstructive  - example:warm bodies took the idea of the zombie films and combined it with love
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NARRATIVE

Narrative is a spoken or written account of connected events; a story. It is the order you place information.

Narrative range

-Unrestrictive narrative
When the audience knows more than the characters.

-Restrictive narrative 
When the audience learns information the same time as the character.

TZVETAN TORORAV

Theory of Narrative -> Russian folk tales

1- A state of equilibrium (balance)

2- Disruption of the equilibrium by some action

3- A recognition that there has been a disruption

4- Dealing with disruption

5- A reinstatement of equilibrium (usually different from the start)

LEVI STRAUS
- Binary opposites - Set of opposite values which reveal the structure of media texts.

IDEOLOGY - Is a collection of beliefs held by an individual group or society. Set of conscious or unconscious ideas which make up expectations and motivation.

HEGEMANY - GRAVIA - A set of beliefs by dominant social group that is accepted bu the rest of society.

FALSE COSCIOUSNESS - A way of thinking that prevents a person from perceiving the true nature of their social economic situation.
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AUDIENCE THEORY 

These include : 

HYPODERMIC NEEDLE - Mass media can influence directly and informally. Injecting with values                                                  and messages

COPY CAT -  Audience will recreate or reenact. 

DESENSITATION - The more an audience experiences a shocking event, the less shocked they                                              become in real life

CULTIVATION - Continued exposure to certain situations will change our views on them, to closer                                match what we have seen in media texts.

USES & GRATIFICATION - People are not helpless victims of all powerful media, but we use media to fulfill their various needs.