Key Aspects

Question 1

Narrative Codes

Answer 1

Story telling- the way different elements in a story are organised to make it meaningful - Features of the narrative that appeal to a certain group

Question 2

Narrative Structure

Answer 2

The way the story or plot unfolds

Question 3

Representations

Answer 3

Representation is how media texts deal with and present gender, age, ethnicity, national and regional identity, social issues and events to an audience. Media texts have the power to shape an audience’s knowledge and understanding about these important topics.

Question 4

Selection Representations

Answer 4

This refers to what has been selected to include in a media text.

Question 5

Ideology Representations

Answer 5

These are ideas and beliefs, held by media producers, which are often represented in their media texts.

Question 6

Construction Representations

Answer 6

This is the way a media text is put together. In a film or television programme this includes the editing and choice of camera angles, in a magazine or newspaper it includes the layout and writing as well as the choice of images.

Question 7

Denote

Answer 7

Literal description e.g. the dress is coloured flame-red

Question 8

Connote

Answer 8

To explain the meanings of the codes (symbolic) e.g. the red of the dress suggests sex

Question 9

Montage

Answer 9

A series of camera shots which tend to present ideas rather than simple action

Question 10

Action code

Answer 10

An event within the narrative which acts is catalyst for subsequent events

Question 11

Cultural code

Answer 11

A code which is understood within a cultural context e.g. dress, speech

Question 12

Technical code

Answer 12

A code which is created through the use of technology e.g. camerawork, editing, lighting, soundtrack

Question 13

Anchorage

Answer 13

When two or more signs are used together to make the meaning clear

Question 14

Polysemy

Answer 14

The polysemy of codes is the overall understanding of the signs in a text

Question 15

Diegesis / diegetic

Answer 15

Sound that comes from the story itself

Question 16

Non Diagetic

Answer 16

Music/ Sound effects that are added to the editing

Question 17

Enigma

Answer 17

The questions to which the audience wants to know the answer

Question 18

Binary opposites

Answer 18

Extreme opposites in ideas e.g. good and evil, life and death, love and hate, Communism/Capitalism, theism/atheism

Question 19

Institutions

Answer 19

Internal Constraints & External Constraints

Question 20

Technical Code- Long shot

Answer 20

Characters entire bodies (good for showing more than one character)

Question 21

Long shot

Answer 21

Characters entire bodies (good for showing more than one character)

Question 22

Establishing shot

Answer 22

Usually of a place/ outside to establish setting

Question 23

Medium shot

Answer 23

Waist up/torso (good for showing conversation between characters/ common in sit-coms)

Question 24

Close up

Answer 24

Object/ Face, with some background (good for emphasising facial expressions)

Question 25

Extreme Close Up

Answer 25

One Feature/ Part of object fills the screen

Question 26

High Angle Shot

Answer 26

Looking down on a subject, making it seem smaller/vulnerable/isolated

Question 27

Low Angle Shot

Answer 27

Looking up at a subject, making it seem bigger/ more powerful

Question 28

POV shot

Answer 28

Shot from perspective of a character

Question 29

Tracking/ Dolly Shot

Answer 29

Used for Action Shots

Question 30

Birdseye/ Ariel Shot

Answer 30

Shot from the sky

Question 31

Editing

Answer 31

Continuity Editing & Parallel Editing

Question 32

Lighting -High Key

Answer 32

Bright lights- Normality or happy/ lighthearted

Question 33

Lighting- Low Key

Answer 33

Dim Lights- Dark/evil, sinister

Question 34

Target Audience

Answer 34

Who the text was made for

Question 35

Mode of Address

Answer 35

How the text communicates with the audience

Question 36

Preferred Reading

Answer 36

The intended meaning

Question 37

Differential Decoding

Answer 37

How the audience interprets the text based on their individual backgrounds, values, ethnicity, age, gender etc)

Question 38

Categories

Answer 38

The type of text and features of it

Question 39

Access

Answer 39

Which people have access to the text e.g. channel/time/age group

Question 40

Intertextual References

Answer 40

Does the text refer to other texts?

Question 41

Discourses

Answer 41

Comments made by the text that would appeal to a certain group

Question 42

Awards

Answer 42

Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Adapted Screenplay

Question 43

Major Credits:

Answer 43

Producer: Albert S. Ruddy
Director: Francis Coppola
Writer: Mario Puzo
Cast: 
Vito- Marlon Brando
Michael- Al Pacino
Sonny- James Caan