Suggested Answers for Reading Meaning in Media Texts: Codes

Technical Codes:

Camera Angles can be used to express point of view or the relationships between people and their environment. Camera angles can also be used to create an emotional meaning. For example, a high angle long shot focused on a single person can suggest the person's loneliness, defeat, or isolation.

The frequency and number of cuts can create atmosphere. A small number of cuts in a long piece of film could create the feeling of tranquillity, stability, or calm. On the other hand, the same technique could suggest the monotony of the main character(s)' existence.

Quick, frequent cuts might indicate urgency, excitement, or chaos.

Music can be used to create meaning. Many television commercials selling tea or coffee use classical music in the background because it creates an atmosphere of elegance, sophistication.

Some heavy truck commercials use rock music to add the idea of power, masculinity.

Many movies use music with lyrics that are related to the content of the film. For example, the movie Scream contains the track "Don't Fear the Reaper" to reinforce the idea of death, impending danger.

Music Volume can convey information and affect the audience's emotions. Loud music can suggest danger or a party. It can make the audience fearful and uneasy or excited and engaged Heavy rhythm can cause changes in the body such as increased respiration and heart beat. Subsonic sounds can produce panic.

Lighting Intensity, such as brightness, dim light, or shadow can affect our response to characters. We are more likely to mistrust a character who is always seen in the shadows. A romantic scene is most likely to be shot with dim, filtered light.

Camera filters can alter the colour or quality of the picture. A red gel could be very effective to emphasize a scene of bloody battle. Soft filters can be used to create an atmosphere of spirituality, romance, or innocence.

Symbolic Codes

Symbolic codes reflect the type of non-verbal communications we use in everyday life. As much or more information can be communicated without words than through dialogue.

Language: Dialect, choice of words, and slang can all indicate the character's background, social class, or education. For example, Movie mobsters use words such as "whack," "clip," "goombah." Uneducated country people say "I reckon." Snobs use the form "to whom."

Setting: The landscape or the environment can suggest the type of story that will be presented. For example, a movie set in a crumbling inner city is likely to be about street gangs or youth crime.

Costume: The style of dress can indicate historical date or type of character. In old westerns, the good guys wore white hats; the bad guys wore black hats. A young man dressed in pants that are too short, with glasses held together by tape is probably a nerd.

Body Language and Actions: In Clueless, the main character says you can tell a couple is in love if they sit with their knees facing each other. A raised, clenched fist indicates the character is defiant. The girl in the picture below is using her body language to say, "I'm interested in you. Follow me."

Weather: A cloud crossing in front of the sun during a scene can foreshadow an impending change in a character's fortunes.The weather in a Sherlock Holmes mystery is often foggy (signifying mystery). When lovers break up, they often do it in the rain.

Props: A man carrying a snake should probably be considered dangerous. A ticking clock can signal running out of time. Props can be used as metaphors to reinforce the action. In the opening sequence of Scream, the Jiffy Pop popcorn sizzles , then pops, then bursts into flame during the same time that the killer teases the victim, then reveals his intentions, then attacks.