Media Language Terminolgy

Question 1

Ambient sound

Answer 1

Natural sound of the location that the scene is filmed in

Question 2

Animation

Answer 2

Drawn pictures or images that move on the screen

Question 3

Anchorage

Answer 3

Where the words that accompany an image in a media text determine the meaning of that image.
For example a photo caption that accompanies a photo

Question 4

Arc of transformation

Answer 4

The journey that a character goes through in a narrative that leads to them changing

Question 5

Audio codes

Answer 5

Meaning that is communicated through sound

Question 6

Back story

Answer 6

Elements of a narrative (usually info about a character) that takes place before main narrative

Question 7

Camera angle

Answer 7

A type of technical code that refers to the position of the camera in relation to what it is filming:
HIGH-ANGLE (aerial view or birds-eye view)
LOW-ANGLE (worms-eye view)

Question 8

Camera shots

Answer 8

A type of technical code that refers to the different type of images that can be produced by the camera:
Close-ups, extreme close-ups, long shots, medium close-ups, establishing shots, tracking shots, zoom shot, panning shot, tilt shot

Question 9

Caption

Answer 9

Words that accompany an image in a text

Question 10

Chiaroscuro lighting

Answer 10

Lighting on image is so low as to create lots of shadows

Question 11

Conventions

Answer 11

Rules, patterns and principles that are typical to each media form and genre.
Useful headings to categories conventions are characters, setting, iconography, narrative, technical codes, representations.

Question 12

Codes

Answer 12

Signs within a media product that leads to meanings

Question 13

Contrapuntal sound

Answer 13

Sound that does not match what is happening on screen

Question 14

Credits

Answer 14

List and cast crew of a film or tv programme that appears at the end

Question 15

Cross-cut

Answer 15

Editor cuts between two scenes happening at the same time in different places

Question 16

Cut

Answer 16

Move from one shot to another

Question 17

Decoding

Answer 17

The process through which an audience interprets the system of signs in a media product

Question 18

Deep or shallow focus

Answer 18

Camera technique that allows items in foreground and background to be in focus at the same time

Question 19

Dialogue

Answer 19

Speech that is actually heard by the audience

Question 20

Diegetic sound

Answer 20

Sound that is part of the mis-en-scene and can be heard by the characters