Diving deeper into media studies

Genre -

Genre is considered a category of a media type which is formed with repetition and variation. With all genres there are issues; these include repetition, audience evolution, as well as cliches and stereotypes. In class, my classmates and I discovered that the most popular movie genres tend to be adventure, action and drama (with comedy right behind).

Codes and conventions - 

Codes are media language choices, while conventions are the ways the codes are used. The study of codes and conventions - also known as semiotics - communicates meaning to its audience, by making them explore the relationship between the signifier (denotation) and the signified (connotation). 

There are different types of codes and conventions which include iconographies, representations and themes. 

As soon as I started learning about codes and conventions, I realised how important and impactful they can be in certain scenes. Therefore, for my foundation media portfolio I would really like to use such signifiers to form deeper and greater meanings. 

Genre and ideology -

Ideology, defined as a system of ideas, ideals and beliefs, can be a part of a genre's codes and conventions. This can be seen in an example of a genre which is identified as a "sitcom" - a sitcom's ideology is mainly based on friendship. 

Diegesis and diegetic - 

Diegesis, from its Greek origin, is known as narrative. It is the fictional world that is created within a film and sold to the general public. Additionally, diegetic is anything that lives in that world, whereas anything outside it, is known as extradiegetic/non-diegetic. For example, the sound that only the characters within that world can hear is diegetic, and a voiceover is non-diegetic. 

Diegetic sound promotes realism. Thus, I think it is very important to include such sounds, like footsteps, murmuring in the background or even the sound of raindrops falling. It is also important to understand that these sounds can be categorised as foley. Moreover, non-diegetic sound evokes atmosphere within a certain scene; it helps build tension, it creates a light-hearted mood or even allows the adding of voiceovers to encourage different viewpoints. 

I believe that both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds will be extremely important to include in my final foundation portfolio - especially in order to convey the mood of certain scenes, as well as reinforce realism.

Some key words and their definitions -

• Stereotypes - basic or obvious characteristics which are often exaggerated (used to describe characters quickly). This is something I will try to incorporate in order to convey a clear meaning of my opening scenes.

• Representations - ways in which media portrays particular groups, communities, experiences, ideas or topics. With representation being a major tool in film, I believe that portraying marginalised groups or individuals - without romanticising or glamourising them - will be a significant way for me to complete my portfolio.

• Mediation - the process everything goes through before it reaches an audience. This process is important to understand in order to consciously edit and make changes to my 2 minute opening.