01-02 Semiotics - Part 1

Question 1

What are the visual codes?

Answer 1

Setting
Lighting
Iconography (costumes, props, symbols)
Staging (proxemics, body language, facial expressions)

Question 2

What are the technical codes?

Answer 2

Use of camera (shots, movements, angles)
Editing (type of cut/transition, pace/arrangement of shots)
SFX/Manipulation (CGI, overlays, splitscreen, etc.)
Audio codes (diegetic or non-diegetic plus type of sound - dialogue, narration, soundFX, music, etc.)

Question 3

What is layout and design?

Answer 3

Colour
Composition
Typography
Rating/Logos

Question 4

What are the narrative codes?

Answer 4

Structure (beginning, middle, end // equilibrium, disequilibrium, new equilibrium)
Characters (non-fiction = presenter, narrator, experts, historical figures etc. // fiction = hero, sidekick, helper, etc.)
Action Codes (types of events)
Enigma Codes (unanswered questions)

Question 5

Setting is what type of code?

Answer 5

Visual.

Question 6

Lighting is what type of code?

Answer 6

Visual.

Question 7

Iconography is what type of code?

Answer 7

Visual.

Question 8

Staging is what type of code?

Answer 8

Visual.

Question 9

Use of camera is what type of code?

Answer 9

Technical.

Question 10

Editing is what type of code?

Answer 10

Technical.

Question 11

SFX/Manipulation is what type of code?

Answer 11

Technical.

Question 12

Audio is what type of code?

Answer 12

Technical.

Question 13

Colour is what type of code?

Answer 13

Layout and design.

Question 14

Composition is what type of code?

Answer 14

Layout and design.

Question 15

Typography is what type of code?

Answer 15

Layout and design.

Question 16

Ratings/Logos is what type of code?

Answer 16

Layout and design.

Question 17

Structure is what type of code?

Answer 17

Narrative

Question 18

Characters is what type of code?

Answer 18

Narrative

Question 19

Action codes are what type of code?

Answer 19

Narrative

Question 20

Enigma codes are what type of code?

Answer 20

Narrative

Question 21

What are semiotics?

Answer 21

Signs, symbols and codes.

Question 22

Signs with multiple meanings are known as?

Answer 22

Polysemic.

Question 23

Define ‘polysemic’.

Answer 23

Something that has multiple meanings (i.e. some signs like ‘heart’ for instance)

Question 24

What is a denotation?

Answer 24

A description of how the sign looks/sounds.

Question 25

What is a connotation?

Answer 25

The meaning placed upon the sign according to its context.

Question 26

What is a code?

Answer 26

A system or set of conventions – requiring mutual understanding.

Question 27

Define layout.

Answer 27

Composition how things are arranged, relationship between images & text.

Question 28

Define image manipulation.

Answer 28

Air-brushing, layering, cropping, framing.

Question 29

Define typography.

Answer 29

Size, font style, colour

Question 30

Define lighting.

Answer 30

Low or high key, natural or artificial

Question 31

Define camera work.

Answer 31

Framing angles, shot scale, movement (if AV)

Question 32

Define sound.

Answer 32

Dialogue, voice over, sound effects, music, etc.