AS Media Key Concepts

Media language is one of the four concepts, in an exam we are tested on this through our ability to analyse a 5minute clip. The analysis should be about the following ;

• Cinematography - This is the way that a shot is created using lighting and camera choices. These influence the audiences view of the film, emotions and also how the films overall appearance will be at the end.
• Editing - This is the choice of transitions between shots and also the process of correction, condensation, organization and other modifications to ensure the film is smooth with a constant flow.
• Sound - These are key to a film and include two main catagories which within themselfs create a certain mood and atmosphere for the audience. One catagory is diagetic which means the characters in the shot would be able to hear the sounds aswell as the audience, for example a knock at the door. The other catagory is non-diagetic which means the sound effect is just for the audience like sound affects, for example the opening theme song for james bond as he is walking.
• Mise en Scene - This is everything in a scene which appears infront of the camera from the props and locations to the positioning and make-up of the actors.

Representation is another of the four key concepts. It relates to how people are being portrayed on the screen and this gives us a certain opinion which relates to stereotyping.
We are tested on the ability to analyse how the language builds representions on characters features such as;

• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Sexuality
• Religious identity
• Ability Disability
• Social Class

Audience is another of the four key concepts, these are the people who view the finished product after it has been produced. 


Institution is the last of the key concepts, this refers to the people behind the screen who create the media product,  like directors and editors.