Convention - means something that you expect to see in a certain genre or form. For example a soap opera you would expect it to have a pub. So the main characters of the soap can meet there, such as Eastenders using the Queen Vic. They would commonly use cliff hangers to keep viewers interested in what happens next. So they would watch the next episode when it is on.
Codes - means that when technical elements such as camera, mise - en - scene, sound, editting or special effects are used to create a certain atmosphere with the audience and leading the audience on. For example a man wallking down a dark corridor with light flickering on and off and at the end of the corridor is a door, the person always opens it in slow motion and we would think that there is something behind it when really the monster/creature would be behind him/her.
Codes and conventions in a western
| Typical villian |
Cowboys are a typical convention in a western. There are always a herioc cowboy wearing light/tanned hat, boots and jacket/cloak, normally a ladies man and there are always villians which wear black/dark tanned hat, boots and jacket/cloak. The codes of cowboy would be that the villian leads the audience to thinking that he has got what he wants and then the hero would come along to save the day.
Convention - Horses
Code - the code with a horse would be that there are no cars to travel so in a western they would ride on horses. A villian would ride a dark horse and a hero would ride a white horse or lightly tanned.
Conventions - pistol shoot outs and bar fights
Code - with bar fights and shoot outs show that they are rivals trying to show who is stronger than the other or a better shooter, most of the time it is to impress an attractive lady.
Convention - (country) music
Code - this represents the time of era cowboys were around. In a bar there is always a man playing the piano or guitar which stops playing when a outsider enters the bar. The music in a western would play slowly and rather deep to show that the villian has arrived or got what he was after. The music for when the hero enters or saves the day is high pitched and rather quick.
Convention - tumble weed
Code - this shows that the city which use to be busy until the villian showed up, so now it looks like the place is deserted.
Codes and conventions of a sci-fi
Conventions - alien/monster
Code - normally when an aliens talk sub-titles would translate what he was saying to show that it was talking a different language.
Convention - UFO/Spaceship
Code - normally the alien needs to get back to his home by finding his spaceship/UFO and some humans try to help the alien but the government try to capture the alien.
Your paraphrasing of what is meant by the media specific terms “convention” and “code” is good. You provide useful lists of conventions for the two genres you choose to look at. You demonstrate a good grasp of what conventions are and the job they do. Focusing on those two genres - western and sci-fi (a couple more would have been useful) - you build a useful list of the most prominent conventions used in each. You also show that you have rudimentary understanding of codes. The latter could be developed.
ReplyDeleteTaking your idea about the music in a western playing slowly and with a deep bass sound to show that the villain has arrived or is about to achieve his aim, you could develop this and show your understanding of how codes work synergistically. How do other elements of sound - such as sound motifs and stings - combine with the technical elements of other technical categories (camera, sound and editing)? Try to explore in more depth and detail how a variety of technical codes from the four key technical categories combine to produce particular impacts and effects.
Here is an example of technical codes synergising:
The opening shark scene in Jaws provides a good example of how a filmmaker can employ a variety of technical elements and combine them to achieve a complex codification. In the scene, camera, sound, mise-en-scène and editing are synergised to build an atmosphere, evoke feelings and emotions, convey key information and create meaning.
The long shot of Christie in the sea combines with low key lighting, the distant ringing of the buoy and the accentuated lapping of her limbs moving in the water to communicate her solitariness and vulnerability.
The low angle shot from beneath the surface of the water and high lighting ratio silhouette the figure in the frame and suggest the shark’s point of view. The introduction of the score at this point with its sinister bass and eerie melody build an atmosphere of foreboding and evoke a feeling of apprehension. Interpreting the codification, the audience understands that Christie is in danger; they anticipate that she is about to be attacked by the shark and this causes the viewer to feel a growing sense of fear (a key audience expectation in the horror/thriller genre).
A later low angle shot of Christie’s legs dangling ominously is accompanied by the sound motif of the shark, a deep, intimidating, percussive bass-line which builds tension and heightens suspense.
Cutting back and forth between Christie’s enjoyment above the water and the very different situation developing below the surface contrasts her oblivion with the audience’s growing awareness of her peril and thus creates a very effective dramatic irony within the scene which intensifies both the tension and the suspense.
A good homework. C--