Cross study specifications

Key concepts and language for VCE Media

Cross study what?

ØCross study specifications are key concepts that are addressed throughout the study design.

ØThey are important to understand as they are terms we use throughout VCE Media and are examinable

ØEssentially these set the language that the study design dictates we must use in our subject.

Study design what?

ØThe study design is a document that the VCAA publishes every 4 years for each area of study

ØIt determines the topics we have to study over the two years of VCE

ØIt also specifies the language that we need to use within the areas of study.

Media products

ØThe study design has a definition of what a media product is.

ØMedia products are the consumable output designed by media creators and producers that are distributed to, engaged with, consumed and read by audiences. Media products may be described as tangible or intangible.

ØWhat the hell does that mean?

Media products

ØThe study design refers to media products, not texts.

ØMedia products come from media creators & producers

ØTangible products: Photography & Print

ØIntangible products: Video, Animation & Audio

Media forms

ØMoving Image – Film, Television, Video, AnimationØStill image - PhotographyØAudio – Radio, PodcastØPrint – Magazine, Zine, Comic, Graphic novel, newspaper,

posterØDigital – Online video & audio, Streaming video & audio,

Podcast, Magazine, Comic, Graphic novel, Video game, Blog, Website, App

ØConvergent / Hybridised media – The combination of two or more media forms. Eg. photography & animation

Media technologies

ØAnalogue and digital technologies used in the creation, visualisation, planning, production, distribution, consumption and reception of media products.

ØThink equipment – both hardware & software

ØComputers, software, TV’s, projectors, the internet, DVDs, etc

Media narratives

ØIn VCE Media, narrative is used to describe fictional and non-fictional media stories in all media forms.

ØIn narratives the term ‘story’ refers to all of the events that contribute to the narrative.

ØTraditionally, a narrative refers to the parts of a story depicted in the media form.

Media codes / conventions

ØMedia codes – Technical, written and symbolic tools used to construct meaning in media forms and products

ØMedia conventions – Rules or generally accepted ways of constructing form and informing meaning in media products

ØYou will need to understand the difference between the different types of codes!

Media codes & conventionsSYMBOLIC CODES TECHNICAL CODES WRITTEN CODES CONVENTIONS

SETTING

MISE EN SCENE

ACTING

COLOUR

CAMERAWORK

EDITING

AUDIO

LIGHTING

PRINTED LANGUAGE

SPOKEN LANGUAGE

FORM CONVENTIONS

STORY CONVENTIONS

GENRE CONVENTION

Symbolic codes

ØSetting – Time and place

ØMise en scene – Costume, props, hair/makeup, staging & composition

ØActing – Facial expression, gaze, body language, vocal qualities, movement & body contact

ØColour – Dominant colour, contrasts & colour symbolism

Media codes which are understood in a similar way inside or outside of a media product

Technical codes

ØCamerawork – Positioning (angle), movement, framing, exposure, film stock & lens choice

ØEditing– Graphic edits, rhythmic edits, spatial edits, temporal edits

ØAudio – Speech, music, score, sound effects

ØLighting – Quality, direction, source & colour

Media codes which are specific to a media form

Written codes

ØPrinted language – Text you can see within the frame and how it is presented

ØSpoken language – Includes dialogue and song lyrics

Written codes are the formal written language used in a media product

Conventions

ØForm conventions – Certain ways we expect types of media codes to be arranged (titles and credits for example)

ØStory conventions – Common narrative structures and understandings in story telling within media products. (Narrative structures, cause and effect, character constructions, point of view)

ØGenre conventions – the common use of tropes, characters, settings or themes in a particular media form. Can be formal or thematic.

Generally accepted ways of constructing media forms

Media production process

ØThe stages of the process should not be seen as static or linear; rather they are iterative and interrelated. Underpinning the media production process is ongoing analysis, reflection and evaluation requiring critical, creative and reflective thinking.

From the study design….

DEVELOPMENT

PRE-PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION

POST-PRODUCTION

DISTRIBUTION