Know Your Camera

Just found this website Fuel Your Motionography which is a great place to find new videos but also to find explanations for the terms that are associated with cinematography.

If you want to broaden your understanding or are a little confused with some of the terms, this website gives fantastic examples and good descriptions for each term relating to cinematography.

Check out the following links:

Know Your Camera, Part I: Shot Lengths & Angles

Know Your Camera, Part II: Movement

A Dictionary of Media and Film Studies

There is a great book that contains all the key terms and definitions for "Media and Communication" and also "Film Studies".

However there is also free supporting material online for both, that supplies you with the reference sources for further study, understanding and investigation. Definitely worth a look, if not a read.

Film Studies

Media & Communication

Critical Perspectives - Postmodern Media (Slides)

The slides that I am using throughout our lessons will be permanently available and updating here as the unit progresses. Please use this to refer back to along with all of the documents that you are given/directed to.

AS: Key Concepts and the Language of the Moving Image

Thanks to our friends at Ringwood School for the following excellent resources about the key concepts of Media Studies and Moving Image Language.

Key Concepts: http://mediastudiesringwood.blogspot.com/2010/11/key-concepts-basics.html

Language of the Moving Image: http://mediastudiesringwood.blogspot.com/2010/11/film-terms-techniques-shots-lighting.html

Enjoy!

Converting English Students into Media Students

One of the main differences between English and Media Studies is the language we use. This glossary of terms should help you improve your analysis...

On the left is a English expression and on the right is the Media Studies terminology.

• shows = denotes
• implies/suggests = connotes

• a metaphor = symbolic
• linked/connected = indexical
• directly resembles = iconic

To achieve well in your written work it is important that you learn to use these terms when analysing texts.

GCSE / AS / A2: Key Media Terms

Sign - the smallest unit of meaning within a media text

Denotation - the literal or actual meaning of an image, word or object

Connotations - the implied or suggested meanings of an image, word or object

Representation - the way a person, group, place or idea is "re-presented" by the media

Mediation - the 3 processes of re-presentation: 1 - Selection, 2 - Organisation, 3 - Focusing

Target Audience - a specific group of people who a media text is aimed at

Synthetic Personalisation - the false relationship created between a media text and the reader through the use of personal pronouns (I), direct address (you, your) of the reader and a variety of rhetorical devices (...is this the end of the world?).

Institutions - the producers of media texts

Hypodermic Syringe Effect - this theory suggests that media audiences are passive and accept the messages and values within media texts without questioning them

Two Way Flow Model - this theory suggests that media audiences can reject media texts altogether (selective exposure) or they may simply reject certain ideas within a media text (selective perception)

Uses and Gratifications - this theory suggests that media audiences are entirely active using the media for a variety of specific needs

Textual Analysis - the process of breaking a media text down by its component parts - in the case of a film this would include: the camera angles, mise-en-scene, editing and sound

Composition - the way a media text has been put together, e.g.: the front cover of a magazine

Surface Reality - this is a judgment as to how truthful or realistic a media text appears on first viewing

Verisimilitude - this is a measure of how truthful or realistic a media text is after closer textual analysis