CURRENT AFFAIRS CODES & CONVENTIONS

ISSUES AND VALUES: Language Aspects Technical Code SYMBOLIC CODE: WRITTEN CODE AUDIO FEATURES - The
IDEOLOGY – A FORMAL LANGUAGE – ESTABLISHING SHOT – A shot that SYMBOLISM – The Identify the role of the interpretation of music,
relatively coherent Refers to the most widely reveals the setting where the representation of things or written code in constructing speech and sound effects.
system of values and accepted variety of English action takes place. ideas by means of symbols. meaning, eliciting OPENING MUSIC- Music that
beliefs, or ideas adhering to accepted INTERVIEW BACKGROUND – The Symbols can be created audience’s reaction to the accompanies opening titles.
shared by some conventions; it is used in background that is visible behind through association with issues highlighted Creates air of authority.
social group and formal settings. Associated an interviewee. This is often staged events or people. For  Newspapers ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC –
often taken for with well-educated to give the viewer subtle example, a flag can be  Signboards Music that helps support
granted as natural or individuals. information about the person symbolic of national identity  Letters visuals, usually to create
inherently true. SCIENTIFIC, FORMAL being interviewed, such as social and also racial intolerance.  diary/ journals tension but can be used to
COMMENTARY from a status. COLOURS: What is the effect  printed create a mood or generate
narrator or an expert (this AMATEUR FOOTAGE – Video of the use of colours – to dialogue other emotional responses.
commentary may provide footage filmed by amateurs using create mood, atmosphere?  sub-titles ATMOSPHERIC SOUND-
an historical background, small video cameras or mobile CLOTHING - realism demands gives personal information, Sounds used to generate
social context, or scientific phones. It may also be hidden appropriate clothing and must dates, figures/gives emotional responses, such as
explanation) - may be video footage from security be consistent with audience’s authenticity to subject breaking of glass, sirens,
used to add weight and cameras. Such footage helps add perception of the characters. material screaming, car horns blaring,
authority authenticity to the story. Clothes can be an important Credits – names of busses accelerating, police
INFORMAL LANGUAGE – RE-ENACTMENTS - Where footage visual image in reinforcing a production/personal cast sirens wailing to create a
Refers to language used in is not available, actors can be used particular aspect of at start of programme certain effect.
an informal setting such to re-enact events. Sometimes, this characterisation - formal/ Credits generate and build JUSTIFIED SOUNDS (Usually
as at home or with peers. is obvious, but sometimes it is informal/ casual/ glamorous/ up audience expectations artificial sounds) are those
Usually associated with seamlessly edited into the action to sexy/ ordinary Consider the Title of that have some visual
poorly educated create continuity in the narrative. BODY LANGUAGE – facial program justification, for example, we
individuals. CAMERA WORK - What is the expressions, gestures to see and hear a gun being
INFORMAL DIALOGUE effect of the use of camera suggest emotions – reveals STRUCTURE fired, we see and hear a vase
MIXING OF PRESENT AND distance, camera angles and attitudes and values How is the information smashing on the ground etc.
PAST TENSE AND PAST camera movement, panning and SETTING - Certain locations edited and structured? BACKGROUND NOISE-
PERFECT TENSES when tracking? How are we positioned to have positive or negative What is the order of Natural sounds that
discussing changes and respond to the issues as a result of connotations: content? What is the effect accompany video footage. It
sequence of events the use of technical codes? beach/resort/club – luxury, of this order? may not be the focus of the
USE OF COLLOQUIALISMS EDITING: - director’s/editor’s fun, wealth, relaxation/home Images may include: shot but it does support it.
AND SLANG to cater for conscious selection of film detail. It /house – safety, comfort, archival footage,
youth audiences/ to create is the process of putting together security/ books/magazines – photographs, diagrams, Does it create REALISM OF
a tone of intimacy, all individual shots to make a relaxation, leisure/ alleys – face-to-face interviews with
familiarity and warmth complete story. Editing enables the danger/evil experts or witnesses, on- MOOD/ATMOSPHERE?
EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE programme to fit the time Setting can build location footage or filmed
to discuss controversial available. Time can be shortened atmosphere/mood observations (especially in
issues through the use of cuts (when we It also establishes time scientific and wildlife
ORDINARY LANGUAGE – see a character getting into a car Contributes to the theme / documentaries)
the use of words and on one shot and entering a building can reflect values. INTRODUCTION: Current
phrases the audience is in the next, we accept the Setting can be associated with Affairs programs are
sure to understand. Main convention that time has passed). an emotional struggle. arranged much like an
ideas are always How are the various components Setting can act as a contrast essay. The introduction
expressed simply and in of the film (e.g. experts, interviews, to events. should set the scene and lay
familiar terms presenters, film footage, data) OBJECTS – can give out the problem/issue.
DICTION – carefully slotted together and what meaning social/cultural/ economic/ Chronological – arranged in
chosen words to capture does this sequence suggest? psychological meanings the order in which events
attention MONTAGE: -A technique in film How are we positioned to happened.
CLICHES –are used to editing in which a series of short respond to the issues as a Why does the film start
create a relaxed, shots are edited into a sequence to result of the use of symbolic where it does?
conversational and condense space, time, and codes? Who introduces the story?
informal tone information or to suggest The thesis (argument) is put
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS memories or hallucinations. The forward, if proven, will help
– used to arouse interest series of images shown in rapid the viewer understand the
and force readers to succession is also used to affect a problem or issues that is to
think/reflect particular mood or to suggest a be dealt with during the
PERSONAL PRONOUNS – chain of events/ the splicing problem
used to intensify the together of vision/audio to tell a What form does the
conversational tone and to story. introduction take? To what
involve the reader, for e.g. REPETITIONS - Are there any extent does the introduction
‘you’, ‘your’, ‘we’ REPETITIONS of certain images or provide a framework or set
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE – scenes? What is the effect on the of expectations for the
for e.g. the use of viewers? viewer?
metaphor s (to create a JUXTAPOSITIONING – What Does the introduction set up
strong image) and similes - images are shown directly after the certain characters as
EFFECT: more witty, other and what is the EMOTIONAL heroes / villains? What is
interesting and appealing EFFECT OF SEEING THESE IMAGES the issue?
usually using loosely linked CONSECUTIVELY? BODY OF MATERIAL:
simple sentences and even LIGHTING – What MOOD is created Are presenters used
non-sentences by the harshness-softness, throughout the story? How
elisions or leaving out darkness-brightness of the shot? is narration used in
letters (e.g. he’ll) FRAMING – an artificial boundary conjunction with visuals?
repetition – for emphasis around an image – the frame What sort of sources of
frequent use of ‘and’ or determines what information is information?
non-lexical word such as and what is not available to the Interviews – who is
‘um’ or ‘er’ or ellipses in viewer and thus restricts the interviewed? How much
comments by interview available meanings. Close-ups, for time/space is each
subjects, reflecting e.g. convey characters’ emotions interviewee given? How is
unrehearsed responses. or, in the case of objects, highlight the audience positioned to
details that are important to the respond to the issues?
plot. Dramatic reconstruction
VISUALS/GRAPHICS – Any visual with emotional impact. A
element that is created for and sense of dramatic conflict is
presented on the screen. For also to encourage audience
example, the opening credits. involvement.
MISE-EN-SCENE- (things put in the Visual representations –
shot). Producers carefully compose what attitudes have we
shots so that they contain the been taught to associate
images they want the audience to with what we see?
see. These are used to advance the What are the values and
argument of the exposition. ideas associated with the
GRAPHICS/TABLES- Slides of details?
statistics or highlighted quotes can Are the ‘characters’ figures
be inserted in the story. in their own rights or do
STEREOTYPES - The use of a they represent stereotypes?
particular stereotype can create a
viewpoint. Is the voice-over narrative
SHORTS – Short, quick succession used to ‘interpret’ the
of headlines and voice-over.
subject to the audience?
INSERT- Picture of graphics in a box
to the side of the presenter.
Verbal language – what are
STILLS-Still photographs (past and
present) we permitted to hear? How
ACHIVAL FOOTAGE- ‘Old vision’ of is language used to
an item – shows past history. reinforce positive or
CCTV FOOTAGE – Security camera
footage shows the incident. negative views?
CINEMA VERITE – The camera films
everything and becomes our ‘eyes’. Is there a pattern?
Reality television. CLIMAX
MOBILE PHONE FOOTAGE – Vision  Does the film gain
captured usually by a member of URGENCY/PACE as
the public. it progresses
VOX POPS - A useful source. Edited toward its ending?
short interview grabs cut together If so, how/why has
to explore opinion on an issue. This the film makers
is where journalists or special created this feeling
researchers go out into the street of a climax?
to ask members of the public for
their views on matters of current CONCLUSION:
public concern. There are several The conclusion of the
different types of vox pop. ‘Vox Current Affairs story should
pop’ is a useful name, but it is bring with it some sense of
jargon used among journalists. ‘Vox resolution to the original
pop’ is an abbreviation of vox problem or issues – at least
populi which is Latin for ‘the voice the viewer should
of the people’ (vox = voice, from understand more about the
which English gets words like causes and effects
‘vocal’; populi from populus = the associated with the issue.
people, from which English gets The original thesis should be
words like ‘popular’ and proved or falsified.
‘population’).
CURRENT AFFAIRS CODES & CONVENTIONS

ISSUES AND VALUES Language Aspects Technical Code SYMBOLIC CODE: Written Code: Audio Features
CURRENT AFFAIRS CODES & CONVENTIONS

STRUCTURE Language Aspects Technical Code SYMBOLIC CODE: Written Code: Audio Features