Things to Know

Question 1

Technical Codes

Answer 1

All the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.

Question 2

Symbolic Codes

Answer 2

Show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character’s actions show you how the character is feeling.

Question 3

What was Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory 1975?

Answer 3

That the way things are presented with women in them is as if the whole audience is looking at it from a heterosexual man’s point of view.

Question 4

Convention Meaning

Answer 4

What is usually done

Question 5

What are the five stages of Todorov’s Equilibrium/Narrative Theory?

Answer 5

Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition of Disruption, Attempts to Repair Disruption, Return to Equilibrium.

Question 6

What are the 7 stages to Propp’s Character Theory?

Answer 6

Villain, Donor, Helper, Princess, False Hero, Dispatcher and the Hero

Question 7

Semiotics

Answer 7

The study of signs and symbols and their use of interpretation.

Question 8

Baudrillard’s Hyperreality and Simulacra

Answer 8

Hyperreality is an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality. Simulacra is an image or representation of someone or something.

Question 9

Richard Dyer’s Star Theory

Answer 9

Refer to the idea that celebrities are commodities and can be split into three areas: Star as a construction, star as a commodity and star as an ideology

Question 10

Steve Neale Genre Theory

Answer 10

He says that a genre is defined by two things: Repetition and Difference

Question 11

Polysemy

Answer 11

Understanding that images in media can be interpreted in different ways

Question 12

Charles Peirce Semiotics Theory

Answer 12

The form a sign takes, it’s signifier, can be classified as one of three types: An icon, index or symbol.

Question 13

What do icon, index and symbol mean?

Answer 13

Icon physically resembles what it stands for. Index shows evidence of what’s being represented but has a casual link - dark clouds means it might rain. Symbol doesn’t resemble what it stands for eg words are symbols - flags are symbols

Question 14

Misogyny meaning

Answer 14

dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

Question 15

Action Code meaning

Answer 15

Significant events which move the narrative on in a particular direction. For example, a phone ringing or a knock at the door

Question 16

Enigma Code meaning

Answer 16

Pose questions to the audience which are then answered shortly after or later in the film.