MEDIA AND INFORMATION

LANGUAGES

GENRES, CODES,
AND CONVENTION
“LANGUAGE MAY BE A
SOURCE OF
MISUNDERSTANDINGS”
BY: Marshall Mcluhan,1964
 LANGUAGE
PERTAINS TO THE TECHNICAL AND
SYMBOLIC INGREDIENTS OR CODES
AND CONVENTIONS THAT MEDIA
AND INFORMATION
PROFESSIONALS MAY SELECT AND
USE IN AN EFFORT TO
COMMUNICATE IDEAS,
INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE.
 MEDIA LANGUAGES

Codes, conventions, format,

symbols and narrative
structures that indicate the
meaning of media messages to
an audience.
………………………..
 WHAT IS GENRE?

comes from the French word

meaning 'type' or 'class‘
can be recognized by its
common set of distinguishing
features (codes and
conventions)
 What are codes and conventions?

CODES
are systems of signs, which
create meaning
CONVENTIONS
are the generally accepted
ways of doing something
 Types of Code

Technical Symbolic Written

 Technical Codes
ways in which equipment is
used to tell the story (camera
techniques, framing, depth of
fields, lighting and exposure,
etc.)
 Technical Codes
Camera Techniques

Basic Camera Shots

Extreme Wide Shot

Wide Shot
Medium Shot
Medium Close- up
Close- up
Extreme Close- up
 TYPES OF CODES

Symbolic Codes
show what is beneath the
surface of what we see
(objects, setting, body
language, clothing, color, etc.
)
 Written Codes

use of language style

and textual layout
(headlines, captions,
speech bubbles,
language style, etc. )
WRITTEN CODES
 CONVENTION
In the media context,
refers to a standard or
norm that acts as a rule
governing behavior.
 MESSAGES

The information sent

from a source to a
receiver
 AUDIENCE

The group of consumers

for whom a media message
was constructed as well as
anyone else who is exposed
to the message.
 PRODUCERS

People engaged in the

process of creating and
putting together media
content to make a finished
media product
 OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

Libraries, archives,
museums, internet, and
other relevant information
providers