Media and Information

Languages
Academic Year 2021-2022
MEDIA AND INFORMATION
LANGUAGES

Analyzing and identifying these codes will provide a clearer

perspective on how media influence our thinking and perception
of the realities.
Lesson 1: The Language of Media and
Information
Lesson 1: The Language of Media and
Information

Media language involves the study of codes, conventions, and genre.

Codes are structure and arrangement of signs that are decoded

to produce meaning.
CODES

There are three general types of codes: technical, symbolic, and written

Technical Codes – utilize tools or equipment to convey a certain

message to media. Common examples are camera work, editing,
lightning, and audio mixing.
CODES

Camera angles – refers to how the

camera is placed and how objects,
people, and places are shot.
CODES

Camera angles – refers to how the camera is placed and how objects,
people, and places are shot.
CODES

Lighting is the selective use of natural or artificial light to create a certain

effect.

Symbolic Code – This type of code is all about association and connotation
reflected in the physical aspect of the objects, colors, or even animals.
Symbolic codes may also take in a form of setting, clothing, verbal and non-
verbal gestures like facial expression and tone.
CODES

Written Codes – buzzwords like new, fresh, cool that may seem pleasant
to hear yet empty value. A catchphrase is an easily remembered
expressions that has been associated to certain products.
CODES
CONVENTIONS

Conventions are the rules or norms on how codes are organized and
presented to the audience. The expectations of the audience must be
addressed using these commonly accepted ways of creating meaning or
else the audience will feel dissatisfied, confused, or out of place after the
experience.
CONVENTIONS
GENRE

Media can be classified into genres. The etymology of genre is from a

French word, which means kind. A genre is any kind or type of media
that has a common set of characteristics, styles, and techniques
recognized both by producers and audience.
ACTIVITY
1. Select a political candidate and their three political campaign posters. Notice
the way they project and pose for the ad. What camera angle and shot was
commonly used? Why do you think this particular shot (e.g., close-up, long-shot)
was taken? What does it signify? Does the kind of shot taken by political
candidates have impact to their target voters?

2. Choose a movie, whether local or international, that won best cinematography

in any award winning bodies. This particular award is focused on the visual
element of the film in terms of composition, lighting and camera motion. Watch
this particular movie and write a descriptive review on why you think this movie
deserves the award or otherwise argue why you think the award could have been
received by the other nominee.