4.1.3

Media Language & TV

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Genre

In relation to any TV text, it is important to identify how media language is used to create meaning, and issues of genre and narrative that may also be relevant.

Genre

Genre

  • When provided with a TV text to analyse, you must identify the conventions of that TV genre and discuss whether or not the text is conventional for the genre.
  • Discuss issues such as genre hybridity and sub-genres.

Narrative

In relation to any TV text, it is important to identify how media language is used to create meaning. Identify any narrative theory that can be applied.

Propp's character roles

Propp's character roles

  • Propp's character roles:
    • Prince, princess, helper donor etc
Structure

Structure

  • Identify whether the TV text has a linear or non-linear structure.
Todorov's theory of narrative stages

Todorov's theory of narrative stages

  • Try and identify the stages of:
    • Equilibrium.
    • Disruption.
    • Then new equilibrium.
Levi-Strauss Binary Oppositions

Levi-Strauss Binary Oppositions

  • Good vs evil.
  • Aliens vs humans.
  • Old vs new.
Barthes’ enigma and action codes

Barthes’ enigma and action codes

  • Codes of mystery and intrigue used to engage the audience.
  • Codes which suggest some form of action will occur.
    • For example a character pulling out a gun.
Narrative techniques

Narrative techniques

  • It is also important to consider the narrative techniques used in a TV text, such as the use of captions or a narrator to help tell the story.
  • Consider any written or spoken language that is used and the meanings created.

Technical codes

It is important to identify and analyse technical codes in TV. The most important are covered below.

Use of Sound

Use of Sound

  • Diegetic, non-diegetic, parallel sound, sound bridge, voiceover, use of music.
Camera shots and angles

Camera shots and angles

  • ECU, CU, Long Shot, Medium Shot, birds eye view, worms eye view, tilt, canted angle, two shot, over the shoulder shot.
Camera Movement

Camera Movement

  • Pan, tracking shot, crane shot,dolly shot, steadicam, handheld.
Editing

Editing

  • Continuity and non-continuity, wipe, fade, dissolve, straight cut, montage.
Lighting

Lighting

  • High key, low key, natural lighting, 3 point lighting, spotlight, backlight, fill light.
Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene

  • Within the mise en scene there will be important symbolic codes that need to be identified and discussed such as:
    • Settings, props, costume, hair and makeup, facial expression and body language, use of colour.
Jump to other topics
1

Overview

1.1

Media Language

1.1.1Media Language1.1.2Media Language 2
1.2

Audience

1.2.1Audiences1.2.2Audiences 21.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience
1.3

Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes1.3.2Gender1.3.3Audiences
1.4

The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries1.4.2Ownership1.4.3Funding & Regulation1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry
2

Component 1: Section A

2.1

Magazines - Vogue

2.1.1Magazines2.1.2Vogue - Context2.1.3Vogue - Narrative2.1.4Vogue - Representation
2.2

Magazines - GQ

2.2.1GQ - Context2.2.2GQ - Narrative2.2.3GQ - Representation
2.3

Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing2.3.2Analysing Adverts2.3.3Analysing Adverts 22.3.4Theories & Principles2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising
2.4

Print Advertisements - Quality Street

2.4.1Quality Street - Context2.4.2Quality Street - Narrative2.4.3Quality Street - Representation
2.5

Print Advertisements - (2026 Exams) This Girl Can

2.5.1This Girl Can - Context2.5.2This Girl Can - Narrative2.5.3This Girl Can - Representation
2.6

Print Advertisements - (2027 Exams) NHS 111

2.6.1NHS 111 - Context2.6.2NHS 111 - Narrative2.6.3NHS 111 - Representation
2.7

Film Posters (Marketing)

2.7.1The Man with The Golden Gun2.7.2The Man with The Golden Gun 2
2.8

Film - No Time To Die

2.8.1Context2.8.2Narrative2.8.3Representation
2.9

Newspapers

2.9.1Ownership & Regulation2.9.2News Selection2.9.3Media Language2.9.4Genres2.9.5Newspaper Conventions2.9.6Representation2.9.7Audience2.9.8Theories2.9.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers
2.10

The Sun

2.10.1Context2.10.2Narrative2.10.3Language & Images
2.11

The Guardian

2.11.1The Guardian2.11.2Narrative2.11.3Language & Images
2.12

(2028 Exams) The Sun

2.12.1The Sun - Context2.12.2The Sun - Narrative2.12.3The Sun - Representation
2.13

(2028 Exams) The Guardian

2.13.1The Guardian - Context2.13.2The Guardian - Narrative2.13.3The Guardian - Representation
3

Component 1: Section B

3.1

Video Games

3.1.1Video Games
3.2

Video Games - Fortnite

3.2.1Fortnite (2017) - Media Industries3.2.2Fornite (2017) - Audience
3.3

Film

3.3.1The Big Six3.3.2Technology3.3.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films
3.4

Radio

3.4.1The Radio Industry3.4.2Categories of Radio Station3.4.3Technology & Radio Audiences3.4.4Theories3.4.5End of Topic Test - Radio
3.5

Radio - The Archers

3.5.1Production3.5.2Media Industries3.5.3Media Contexts3.5.4Audiences 13.5.5Audiences 2
3.6

(2027 Exams) Radio - Desert Island Discs

3.6.1Media Industries3.6.2Audiences3.6.3Media Contexts
4

Component 2: Section A

4.1

Television

4.1.1The Television Industry4.1.2Types of Broadcasting4.1.3Media Language & TV4.1.4Representation & Audiences4.1.5Theories
4.2

Sitcom

4.2.1Sitcoms4.2.2Friends4.2.3Friends 24.2.4End of Topic Test - Sitcoms & Friends
4.3

Sitcom - Modern Family

4.3.1Media Language4.3.2Representation4.3.3Media Industries4.3.4Audiences4.3.5Media Contexts
4.4

Sitcom - Man Like Mobeen

4.4.1Media Language4.4.2Representations4.4.3Media Industries
4.5

(2026 Exams) Luther

4.5.1Context4.5.2Media Language4.5.3Representation4.5.4Audience4.5.5Industry
4.6

The Sweeney

4.6.1Context4.6.2Media Language4.6.3Representation4.6.4Audience4.6.5Industry
5

Component 2: Section B

5.1

Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos5.1.2The Music Industry
5.2

Lizzo - 'Good as Hell'

5.2.1Context5.2.2'Good as Hell'5.2.3Media Language5.2.4Representation5.2.5Audience5.2.6Industry
5.3

Taylor Swift - 'The Man'

5.3.1Taylor Swift5.3.2Media Language5.3.3Representation5.3.4Audiences5.3.5Media Industries5.3.6Media Contexts
5.4

Stormzy - 'Superheroes'

5.4.1Stormzy5.4.2Media Language5.4.3Representation5.4.4Audiences5.4.5Media Industries5.4.6Media Contexts
5.5

Justin Bieber - 'Intentions'

5.5.1Justin Bieber5.5.2Media Language5.5.3Representation5.5.4Audiences5.5.5Media Industries5.5.6Media Contexts
5.6

TLC - 'Waterfalls'

5.6.1TLC5.6.2Media Language5.6.3Representation5.6.4Media Contexts
5.7

Duran Duran - 'Rio'

5.7.1Duran Duran5.7.2Media Language5.7.3Representation5.7.4Media Contexts
5.8

Online Media - Lizzo

5.8.1Media Language5.8.2Representation5.8.3Audiences5.8.4Media Contexts & Industries
5.9

Online Media - Taylor Swift

5.9.1Media Language5.9.2Representation5.9.3Audiences5.9.4Media Contexts & Industries
5.10

Online Media - Stormzy

5.10.1Media Language5.10.2Representation5.10.3Audience5.10.4Media Context & Industries

Practice questions on Media Language & TV

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Analysing genre:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Todorov's Theory of Narrative StagesPut in order
  3. 3
    Todorov's theory of narrative stages:Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Who identified enigma and action codes?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What is NOT a type of camera shot?Multiple choice
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Types of Broadcasting

Representation & Audiences