Media and Information Literacy PDF

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY MEDIA AND INFORMATION LANGUAGES THE CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTEDNESS Media Codes, Conventions and Messages Audience, Producers and Other Stakeholders of Media LESSON 1: THE CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTEDNESS Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/shooting-videographer-model-362...

MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY MEDIA AND INFORMATION LANGUAGES THE CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTEDNESS Media Codes, Conventions and Messages Audience, Producers and Other Stakeholders of Media LESSON 1: THE CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTEDNESS Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/shooting-videographer-model-3621806/ The process of construction requires the use of deliberate choice on what and what not to include, what to put on spotlight, and what should serve as a backdrop. Now that it is clear that all media messages are constructed, the first step to fully appreciating the “constructedness” of media and information messages is to deconstruct. Key Concepts for Deconstructing Media  Source All media messages are created. The creator or the source of media could be the writer, photographer or blogger. In the case of a movie or film, the scriptwriter, director, producer, and movie studio all play a role in creating the message. AUDIENCE Media messages are intended to reach audiences. Some are designed to reach millions of people like the primetime shows on the television. TEXT We often use the word “text” to mean “written words.” But in media literacy, “text” has a very different meaning. The text of any piece of media is what you actually see and/or hear. It can include written or spoken words, pictures, graphics, moving images, sounds, and the arrangement or sequence of all of these elements. SUBTEXT The “subtext” is an individual interpretation of a media message. It is sometimes called the “hidden text.” The subtext is not actually heard or seen; it is the meaning we create from the text in our own minds. PERSUASION TECHNIQUES Media messages use a number of techniques to try to persuade us to believe or do something. If we can spot the techniques being used, we’re less likely to be persuaded, and more likely to think for ourselves. POINT OF VIEW No one tells the whole story. Everyone tells part of the story from their point of view. Deconstructing a media message can expose the values and biases of the media creator, and uncover powerful messages in the process.  1. Whose message is this? Who created or paid for it? Why? 2. Who is the “target audience”? What is their age, ethnicity, class, profession, interests, etc.? What words, images or sounds suggest this? Activity 2: 3. What is the “text” of the message? (What we actually see and/or hear) Deconstructing 4. What is the “subtext” of the message? (What do you Media think is the hidden or unstated meaning?) 5. What “tools of persuasion” are used? (Ex. Beautiful people, Association, Bandwagon, Symbols) 6. What positive messages are presented? What negative messages are presented? 7. What part of the story is not being told? Lesson 2 Media Codes, Conventions and Messages SUPERMAN NO U-TURN PEACE RECYCLE INFINITY Codes are systems of signs which when put together create meaning.  SYMBOLIC CODES Symbolic codes include the language, dress or actions of characters, or iconic symbols that are easily understood. For example, a red rose may be used symbolically to convey romance, or a clenched fist may be used to communicate anger. Symbolic codes in media include setting, mise en scene, acting and color https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-heart-couple-woman-man-1150073/  SETTING Setting is the time and place of the narrative. A setting can be as big as the galaxy or space, or as small as a specific room. Setting can even be a created https://www.writingforward.com/storytelling/fiction-writing-the-setting-of-a-story atmosphere or frame of mind.  Mise en scene Mise en scene means ‘everything within the frame’. In media terms it has become to mean the description of all the objects within a frame of the media product and how they have been arranged. An analysis of mise en scene includes: Set Design, Costume, Props, and Staging and Composition https://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/mise-en-scene-in-film-afk  COLOR Color has highly cultural and strong connotations. When studying the use of color in a media product the different aspects to be looked at are: Dominant color, Contrasting foils, and Color symbolism. https://pixabay.com/photos/crystal-ball-photography-ball-lights-3894871/  ACTING Actors portray characters in media products and contribute to character development, creating tension or advancing the narrative. The actor portrays a character through: Facial expression, Body Language, Vocal qualities, Movement, and Body contact https://www.bw.edu/Assets/theatre-acting-directing/theatre-slider-update-04.jpg  ACTING Actors portray characters in media products and contribute to character development, creating tension or advancing the narrative. The actor portrays a character through: Facial expression, Body Language, Vocal qualities, Movement, and Body contact https://www.bw.edu/Assets/theatre-acting-directing/theatre-slider-update-04.jpg  Technical codes include sound, camera angles, types of shots and lighting. They may include, for example, ominous music to communicate danger in a feature film, or high-angle camera shots to create a feeling of power in a photograph. Technical codes in media may include Camerawork, Editing, Audio and Lighting.  Camerawork refers to how the camera is operated, positioned and moved for specific effects. Camerawork includes: Positioning, Movement, Framing, Exposure, and Lens choice.  Editing is the process of choosing, manipulating and arranging images and sound.  Audio is the expressive or naturalistic use of sound. The three aspects of audio are: Dialogue, Sound effects, and Music.  Lighting is the manipulation of natural or artificial light to selectively highlight specific elements of the scene. Elements of lighting include: Quality, Direction, Source, & Colour.  Written codes are the formal written language used in a media product. Written codes include printed language which is the text you can see within the frame and how it is being presented, and also spoken language, which includes dialogue and song lyrics.  Conventions are accepted ways of using media codes. Conventions are closely connected to the audience expectations of a media product. Different types of conventions include form conventions, story conventions and genre conventions.  Form conventions are the certain ways we expect types of media codes to be arranged. For instance an audience expects to have a title of the film at the beginning, and then credits at the end. Newspapers will have the headline or the most important news on the front page and sports news on the back page. Video games usually start with a tutorial to explain the mechanics of how the game works.  Story conventions are common narrative structures and understandings that are common in story telling media products. Examples of story conventions include: Narrative structures, Cause and effect, Character construction, and Point of View.  Genre conventions point to the common use of images, characters, settings or themes in a particular type of medium. Genre conventions are closely linked with audience expectations. Genre conventions can be formal or thematic.