際際滷

際際滷Share a Scribd company logo
MEDIA LANGUAGE
WHAT IS MEDIA LANGUAGE AND HOW DO 
WE USE IT TO DECONSTRUCT A TEXT? 
 It is all about semiotics. 
 When we deconstruct we identify visual codes, i.e. colour, costumes, lighting, 
mise-en-scene, editing, cropping 
 We also look at the composition of shots which involves: the structure and 
framing of the shot, what camera angles were used and the proxemics of 
characters/objects 
 We may find that some of these elements illustrate a narrative.
USING MEDIA LANGUAGE TO 
DECONSTRUCT A TEXT 
EXAMPLES:
THE DARK KNIGHT  THE JOKER 
The colours in this image are largely 
contrasting: the purple, red and green 
(hair) are not colours that are usually used 
to compliment each other. This is effective 
as it emphasises his obvious crazy 
personality. 
This is exaggerated further with his 
costume. His bright purple suit, alongside 
his prominent make-up could be 
considered as abnormal. 
His character is revealed through the use of 
the joker card. The unusual purple costume 
and face paint on the card link perfectly 
with the character in the image. 
The centred proxemics of the character , 
followed by the use of a close up shot, 
create an attraction to the characters face.
MOULIN ROUGE 
The low key lighting 
suggests a romantic 
atmosphere. 
The romance is 
emphasised by the colours 
in the image. Red is the 
most prominent colour in 
this image. Red connotes 
love and passion. 
The colour gold is used 
also, which connotes 
wealth, which suggests 
the type of characters in 
this film. 
The characters are positioned in the centre of the frame; connoting importance. They are also framed by two hearts which reinforces the idea 
of romance and love. 
A wide shot was used for this image which exaggerates the elaborate setting by allowing all of elaborate d辿cor and props to be included in the 
frame.
BILLY ELLIOT 
The proxemics of the boy is that he is at the 
centre of the frame, while positioned in the 
foreground. From this we assume that he is 
the protagonist. 
His costume makes him stand out in the shot. 
The characters in the background are all 
wearing the same white ballerina costume, 
while he is wearing a vest and tracksuit 
bottoms. The darker colours of his costume 
contrast with the bright white of the ballerina 
costume exaggerating the gender difference 
and the abnormality of a boy doing ballet. 
(this is especially abnormal in the 80s when it 
was set)
MUSIC VIDEO  COMPLIMENT YOUR SOUL 
DANCROLL 
This is from a music video of the indie genre 
and many of the semiotics in this image 
conform to the conventions of that genre, 
including: a plain setting, and unique 
elements, i.e. the animals. 
Another convention is plain colours, which is 
shown through both the costume and the 
setting. 
He is holding a guitar and singing, connoting 
that he is the main artist. 
He is standing in the centre of the frame 
indicating that the audiences attention 
should be on him.

More Related Content

Media language

  • 2. WHAT IS MEDIA LANGUAGE AND HOW DO WE USE IT TO DECONSTRUCT A TEXT? It is all about semiotics. When we deconstruct we identify visual codes, i.e. colour, costumes, lighting, mise-en-scene, editing, cropping We also look at the composition of shots which involves: the structure and framing of the shot, what camera angles were used and the proxemics of characters/objects We may find that some of these elements illustrate a narrative.
  • 3. USING MEDIA LANGUAGE TO DECONSTRUCT A TEXT EXAMPLES:
  • 4. THE DARK KNIGHT THE JOKER The colours in this image are largely contrasting: the purple, red and green (hair) are not colours that are usually used to compliment each other. This is effective as it emphasises his obvious crazy personality. This is exaggerated further with his costume. His bright purple suit, alongside his prominent make-up could be considered as abnormal. His character is revealed through the use of the joker card. The unusual purple costume and face paint on the card link perfectly with the character in the image. The centred proxemics of the character , followed by the use of a close up shot, create an attraction to the characters face.
  • 5. MOULIN ROUGE The low key lighting suggests a romantic atmosphere. The romance is emphasised by the colours in the image. Red is the most prominent colour in this image. Red connotes love and passion. The colour gold is used also, which connotes wealth, which suggests the type of characters in this film. The characters are positioned in the centre of the frame; connoting importance. They are also framed by two hearts which reinforces the idea of romance and love. A wide shot was used for this image which exaggerates the elaborate setting by allowing all of elaborate d辿cor and props to be included in the frame.
  • 6. BILLY ELLIOT The proxemics of the boy is that he is at the centre of the frame, while positioned in the foreground. From this we assume that he is the protagonist. His costume makes him stand out in the shot. The characters in the background are all wearing the same white ballerina costume, while he is wearing a vest and tracksuit bottoms. The darker colours of his costume contrast with the bright white of the ballerina costume exaggerating the gender difference and the abnormality of a boy doing ballet. (this is especially abnormal in the 80s when it was set)
  • 7. MUSIC VIDEO COMPLIMENT YOUR SOUL DANCROLL This is from a music video of the indie genre and many of the semiotics in this image conform to the conventions of that genre, including: a plain setting, and unique elements, i.e. the animals. Another convention is plain colours, which is shown through both the costume and the setting. He is holding a guitar and singing, connoting that he is the main artist. He is standing in the centre of the frame indicating that the audiences attention should be on him.