Media key concepts

The four key concepts are: Media language, Representation, Audiences & Institutions.

Media language consists of four different aspects including; cinematography, editing, sound and mis-en-scene.
Cinematography focuses on aspects such as; camera work,  for example the shots used (e.g long shot, wide shot, exrtreme close-up), movements of the camera (e.g panning; which is when the camera moves around but not leaving its specific spot, tracking; which is when the camera is moving continuously according to the scene). Also the angles in which the camera is positioned and the effects it creates on the actual scene.


Editing relates to the production of the media text for example; special effects (e.g slow motion), transitions (how each scene flows from one to another also using different effect e.g dissolve). Also editing pace is related, this is the speed in which the scenes flow from one to another.


Sound can be dispatched into two specific categories, these are; diagetic and non diagetic sounds. Diagetic sounds is the any sound which the character in the scene is supposedly able to hear (e.g music in the scene, someone screaming in the scene), whereas non diagetic sound is a sound which the audience observing the scene can hear but the characters in the actual scene, are not supposed to (e.g music placed for dramatical purposes).


Mis-en-scene is the conclusion of everything that has been purposely placed infront of the camera. This includes; lighting, setting, location, costume, make-up, body language etc.


Representation is the way in which the media portray specfic categories e.g age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, regional identity, ability, disability, social status and class.


Audience is the name used for anyone who is consuming the particular media text.