Media Language

Media Language

You should aim to apply the MEDIA LANGUAGE theory/theorists which can be applied to your c/w (don’t describe, apply it/does it apply).

You will need to write about:

• Denotations

• Connotations

• Anchorage

• Semiotics

– Barthes – codes (see above)

– Saussure - Saussure dealt with the overall code of language, he stressed that signs are not meaningful in isolation, but only when they are interpreted in relation to each other.

And…any of the aforementioned theories can fit neatly into this question.

Questions to Consider

· What does the imagery of the video suggest?

· How was the video shot? What was the purpose of shooting the music video in this way?

· Is the editing noticeable? If so why, if not why not?

· What editing techniques have you used and why, what meaning will be derived from it?

· Consider your use of titles

· How did the video's editing affect time, e.g. did it contract it or expand it? How was this done, e.g. what transitional clues were given?

· In what way(s) did the sound contribute or detract from the video?

· Was the sound distorted or heightened at any point? What might have been the purpose for this?

· Does the title of the song indicate in any way what the video is about? If it does, then in what way(s) is the title reflected in the video? If not, what is the significance of the title in the video?

· What are the chief images of the video? Is there anything interesting about the lighting, the camera angles, the sound, the timing which would reinforce a particular theme? Are there significant symbols?