Codes and Conventions

Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories technical and symbolic.Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.

Symbolic codes are what we can see, for example a character’s action and feelings shown on the screen. Music is a code which fits both technical and symbolic.

Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interview quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense an integral part of any horror movie. Introduction of characters

Can be done through either showing them in a shot or using a POV shot. Can help signify to the target audience the characters’ interests and the fact that they are featured.

Narration and text 

Is a convention that can be used to give the target audience an insight that is happening within the scene.  The genre of the film can be connoted to the target audience through using the flour conventional micro elements, Mise-en-scene, lighting, sound and camera shots and angles.