1. Media languages
Q1 (b) “Discuss how you used Media Languages in one of your coursework
productions to create meaning for the audience.”
Use A2 coursework for this question as you did not use all four media languages for your AS coursework.
Remember with 1b you must include media theory, otherwise your answer is not analytical.
Using your blog, evaluation and final products for the A2 coursework create a LIST of areas you could
ANALYSE for media language – you must be able to refer to specific EXAMPLES in the exam:
CREATING MEANING: They are called media languages because as the four areas combine they
communicate the producer’s meaning to the audience. Codes in each area must match if they are to create
a consistent meaning that is easy to interpret. This is particularly true of music videos and soap operas:
both have a limited amount of time to get their point across to the audience and so have to use very direct,
stereotypical representations to get meanings across.
INTRODUCTION
State what you made for your A2 Production
• Media languages must combine effectively if the intended meaning is to reach the audience (Stuart
Hall) did you try to “close down” meaning by using stereotypes and archetypes or cultural codes?
• Media languages must be consistent across all three pieces if they are to be interpreted as the
producer intended
• Codes and conventions are interpreted according to the culture in which the text was made (e.g.
we expect that a woman in a red dress and heels will be a femme fatale). Briefly describe a code
you used to create meaning e.g. brick walls connote working class.
MAIN BODY OF ESSAY
MOVING IMAGE PIECE: Find three examples for each area so you have lots to discuss
EXAMPLE TABLE:
Media Language (all counts
as theory)
Example Meaning created
1). MISE EN SCENE; props,
costumes, colours, lighting,
pose, facial expression, body
language
Low key lighting Working class connotations

2. 2). CAMERA; movement,
framing, shot sizes, angles
BCU Audience see emotions of
characters, feel close to characters
so can relate to them. Possible
catharsis in being close to
characters.
3). SOUND; music, sound
effects, dialogue/ diegetic
and non diegetic
Major/minor key, dialogue, Rhetorical questions create a
cliffhanger
4). EDITING; length of shots,
pace, juxtaposition,
slow/fast motion, any other
transitions – fades, dissolves,
etc.
Action codes, enigma codes, slow
motion, black and white, shot-
reverse-shot,
Engage audience and make them
think lives of characters are
exciting
YOUR TABLE:
Media Language (all counts
as theory)
Example Meaning created
1). MISE EN SCENE; props,
costumes, colours, lighting,
pose, facial expression, body
language
2). CAMERA; movement,
framing, shot sizes, angles
3). SOUND; music, sound
effects, dialogue/ diegetic
and non diegetic
4). EDITING; length of shots,
pace, juxtaposition,
slow/fast motion, any other
transitions – fades, dissolves,
etc.

3. ANCILLARIES
Media Language (all counts
as theory)
Example Meaning
1). MISE EN SCENE; props,
costumes, colours, lighting,
pose, body language, facial
expression
2). CAMERA framing, shot
sizes, angles, direct address
4). EDITING; anchoring
characters on each other to create
narrative, anchoring text,
institutional branding to convey
values and intended audience (e.g.
E4 melodrama has different
audience to ITV social realism)
THEORY
For this essay ANY theory from the other essay areas will work, as will Collective Identity theory. Some
examples are below.
This table only contains examples for guidance: you should fill the boxes with your own examples
Theory Main points Apply to your work
Genre theory: • Genres are built to show
audiences what to expect
• Codes and conventions allow the
audience to predict what will
happen
• Offer catharsis and escapism
• Media languages are used to
show the audience which sub-
genre the soap/ music video is a
part of
• Media languages combine to tell
the audience how to feel/react to
information given in the text e.g.
shock, happiness, sadness
Narrative theory • Propp- equilibrium and disruption
• Todorov- character types. How do
media languages show which
archetypes are being used?
• Entices audience to watch, gives
them expected codes and
conventions (audience desire
conflict)
Gender theory • Mulvey- do any of your characters
conform to the male/female gaze?
•
Audience theory • Reception theory- closed down
use of codes and conventions
limits how the audience can
interpret your text
•

4. CONCLUSION
• Effective use of media languages is vital if a text is to communicate its’ intended meaning to its
target audience successfully.
• Codes and conventions must be used consistently and be understood by the culture for which the
text was created if a dominant reading is to be achieved.