By Aycan Mehmet

A code in Media is usually a sign through which the media conveys some sort of meaning to us.

A Technical Code is a code which is all to do with the way the text is technically constructed. This is usually done through the camera angles, typography and lighting. An example of this is in the movie ‘Transformers’ in which the iconic font is used in the title sequence with robot-like movements ‘transforming’.

A Symbolic Code is usually conveyed through iconic images or colours in movies and TV. For example in a slasher movie such as ‘The Nightmare on Elm Street’ a knife or a dangerous weapon is usually a connotation. The lime-green and black mixture is a usual colour scheme in Science Fiction movies like ‘The Matrix’.

A Convention is a specific characteristic in a particular genre. An action movie is usually renowned for having a female ‘damsel in distress’ character who is usually the love interest for the male lead.

Denotations and Connotations are vaguely similar, except that a connotation is up to the eye of the beholder. For example the picture on the right is of a rose (denotation) but numerous connotations can be love, passion or the country England (as of it’s emblem).

The Media Text is usually a piece of writing that inspires the Media Product which is some sort of text that has been intended to be consumed by an audience.

This can include a: film; radio show; newspaper; or any other form of media.