Classwork: Technical Elements

Here I will summarise the technical elements I learned during class (most of the material are taught by the teacher). This blogpost is written by me (Rara) and Audrey 

4 main technical elements: 

-> camera 

-> sound

-> edit 

-> mise-en-scene

Camera

Camera angles and movements are fundamental as it shapes interpretation on how the story is told and how the audience experiences it. Every shot taken builds up an implied meaning to direct the audience’s response (emotionally).

Camera angles

1. Long shot: Main subject is captured from a distance with their body fully visible. This shot is usually used to show action.
   
2. Extreme long shot: Captures the subject from a greater distance to make the subject appear small. This shot is usually used to showcase insignificance or isolation of the subject due to the comparison between the small subject and vast setting. 
   
3. Establishing shot: Shows the entirety of the setting which gives a context on the location to the audience. Frequently used in the beginning of a scene.
   
4. Medium shot: Captures half of the subject (from the waist and upwards). This shot is commonly used for dialogues which shows and focuses on both facial expressions and body language. 
   
5. Cowboy shot: Cowboy shots are usually taken on a lower angle and frames the subject from mid-thigh upwards, the subject usually appears bold and confident. This technique is usually used in action movie characters.
   
6. Close up: Captures the entire face (head) of the subject emphasizing on the facial expressions and emotions of the subject. This detail creates an emotional connection for the audience.
   
7. Extreme close up: Captures an even closer focus on a specific detail. The shot usually connotes that the subject is important as it creates tension.
   
8. POV: Captures the events/scene in the eye of a subject and makes it appears as if the audience is experiencing what the subject is. Usually creates a bond between the audience and the character, evoking a sense of empathy.
   
9. Over the shoulder: Captures a subject from over another character’s shoulders. This shot is frequently used for conversations.
   
10. High angle: Camera is placed above the subject and is tilted downwards which makes the subject appear smaller and vulnerable. Connotations: Weak and vulnerable.
    
11. Low angle: Positioned below the subject and is tilted upwards which makes the subject appear larger. Connotations: Power, dominance, and control.
    
12. Dutch angle: Tilted sideways which creates a vertigo-like effect to create a sense of uneasiness from the audience.
    

Notes during class

Camera Movements

Fixed	Camera remains static	Calm, peace, normal
Push in	Camera moves slowly toward subject	Brings the audience closer, more involved, getting more serious.
Pull out	Camera moves slowly away from subject	Takes audience away from the action, leaving a character. Detaching from subject
Pan	Side to side, camera fixed	Reveal information, mirrors natural head movement of the audience.
Tilt	Up and down, camera fixed	Same as pan, just a different direction
Dolly	Camera moves around freely	More immersive, we are moving inside the subjects world, we feel part of the action
Tracking	Camera moves around on tracks	Similar to dolly, but smoother.
Crane	A tool that can move camera horizontally and vertically	Reveals the epic size of the setting, landscape.
Handheld	Camera is shakey	Very natural, immersive. High energy
Zoom	Zoom	Brings audience closer to budget. Draws our attention to something.

Sound 

Description	Effect
Diegetic sound	Sound that can be heard by the characters within the media text.	Add a sense of realism. Reveal information to characters (and then audience)
Non diegetic sound	Sound that can only be heard by the audience.	Enhance meaning, create an emotional response in the audience
Trans diegetic sound	Sound that transitions from one to the other.	Creates a link between the audience and the world. More immersive

	Description	Effect
Melodic	Positive and pleasing connotations	Enhances a positive scene. Create positive emotions in the audience.
Discordant	Harsh and unpleasant connotations.	Enhance negative scenes.  Create suspense, tension, anxiety
Contrapuntal	Has an opposite tone to the on-screen visuals.	Adds deeper meaning to scenes. Insight into the character's thoughts. Maybe they seek pleasure in doing bad things.

Edit 

Mise-en-scene

 

Sample answer during class

Theories

Binary Opposites - Levi Strauss

We all understand the world in terms of opposites. It is the conflict of these opposites that drives a narrative forward. The winner is often the ideology of the producer. 

Cultivation Theory - George Gerbner
Exposure to media over time will reinforce existing ideologies. People will choose to consume media that already agrees with their opinions. 

Desensitisation (Compassion Fatigue)
Occurs when an audience is repeatedly exposed to shocking or violent content. They become less compassionate about what they are seeing anbd the events become 'normalised'

Five Narrative Codes - Barthes
- Hermeneutic Codes - Enigma, deliberately withheld information to create mystery
- Proairetic Codes - Action, plot points that move the story forward
- Semantic Codes - Connotation, Codes that have a deeper meaning than their denotation
- Symbolic Codes - Thematic or structural devices. Aided by Binary Opposites. 
- Cultural Codes - Prior knowledge to help the reader decode all of the signifiers correctly.

 
Genre Theory - Steve Neale
Genre is a matter of repetition and difference. A text must conform to the conventions enough to be recognisable, yet subvert them enough to be different and interesting. This is to:
1) Provide pleasure and meaning for the audience. 
2) Offset against financial risk
Genre is useful because it gives the audience expectations, provides a template for the producers, and provides distributors with an audience to target. 

Hypodermic Needle Theory 
Not really considered a working theory any more. The belief that the audience is a sponge, and accepts any message from the media without any question. 

Reception Theory - Stuart Hall 
Media producers encode their texts with meaning. The audience decodes the text to understand meaning. However, all audiences are different and so receive the message differently. (Preferred, Negotiated, Oppositional)

Representation Theory - Stuart Hall
Media does not reflect meaning, media creates meaning. 
Stereotypes are used as a result of a lack of diversity in production. 
Meaning is created by hegemonic groups (rich, white, straight men) in order to maintain power.

Social Learning - Albert Bandura

After consuming media, the audience might go on to repeat what they have seen (in particular violent acts). Bandura admitted that there may be other processes that contribute to behaviour)

Two-Step Flow
A development of the hypodermic needle theory. The media is untrustworthy, so the audience has their interpretation formed by opinion leaders (trusted members of the community. Think celebrities, influencers)

Uses and Gratification - Bulmer & Katz
The audience is actively using the media to satisfy some of their base social needs;
- Diversion - A form of escapism from the stresses of everyday life
- Personal Identity - The media supplies us with role models
- Social Relationships - 1) People make connections with people they see on screen. 2) People can build their own social relationships
- Surveillance - People use the media to inform themselves about the world around them.

Notes during class

Self Reflection: This classwork really helped me understand and remember all technical elements as well as different theories. Although it took a while to complete, this will be really useful to me because I can simply refer back to this post to recall certain information. As I reread and write everything, I am able to thoroughly retain all of the knowledge that was presented to me, allowing me to readily recall the information when I have a theory class.