Code

A way of communicating meaning through signs, such as camera techniques, costume or sound.

A system of signs and shared rules through which meaning is communicated.

Producers use codes: systems of signs and shared rules that help audiences make sense of a product. A convention is an established practice that audiences recognise, such as placing a headline alongside a news photograph. These shared understandings help producers communicate, but audiences may still interpret a product differently.

A system of signs or techniques used to communicate meaning in a media product.

Verbal codes are words, whether written or spoken. A photograph of someone smiling is non-verbal, even when it appears beside a headline.

Support interpretations with the combination of codes. A low-angle shot can suggest power, but its effect depends on the performance, setting and other choices.

Link a precise detail to meaning: identify the code, describe the moment and explain what it suggests about the character, genre or narrative.

A feature that communicates meaning, such as a camera shot, costume, sound or gesture.

A code is a way of communicating meaning through signs. A convention is a familiar feature audiences expect in a particular form or genre. For example, a film poster commonly includes a title and release information.

Definition

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AQA GCSE Media Studies · 8572

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Eduqas GCSE Media Studies · C680