Mediaology: Codes

Codes - In media studies, codes refer to any element of media language that creates meaning for an audience

- also known as enigma codes, these refer to something within the media product that creates mystery or suspense

- Dark lighting in a movie scene

- Black and white colour to create a sense of mystery

- An event happening in a movie such as a murder by an unknown killer

- also known as action codes, this refers to something within a media product that suggests something will happen

- someone cracking their knuckles suggesting someone is about to get beaten up

- someone pulling a gun out suggesting someone is about to get shot

- Something within a media product that creates a deeper meaning for the audience

- Red rose could mean love, death, sex, innocence, and beauty

- refers to studying a media product, and suggesting ways that the media language creates meaning for the audience

- when conducting textual analysis, it is always better to provide an opinion or possible connotation that to say 'I don't know"

- frankly, we generally don't know why the producer of the advert chose a particular colour, but we can make an educated guess

Z-line - the theory that when looking at a media product our eyes first go from left to right, then down across to the left, and then right again
Rule of Thirds - a frame which is divided into 9 imaginary sections
Heading - a title at the top of the page
Subheading - a title to a specific subsection found under the heading
Serif Font - letters with flicks that can symbolise elegance
Sans-Serif Font - letters without flicks
Lexis - choice of language and vocabulary
Mode of Address - how the media product speaks to the audience