GLOSSARY

This week we have been told that we need to start thinking about are FMP evaluation. As writing is not my strong point I wanted to spend some time looking up the meanings and finding out some new words that I could include in my evaluation. I used an online dictonry to find out the meanings.

ACTUALITY:

Term used to refer to footage of events as they ‘actually’ happen. Leads to assumptions of verisimilitude.

BACKGROUNDING:

The assigning of certain aspects or a narrative or mise en scene to the background of focus. Making characters or events or places seem less important than others that are foregrounded.

BIAS:

Inclination or predisposition towards a particular point of view. Often through selection or rejection of ‘evidence’ to balance an argument.

BELIEFS AND VALUES:

Accepting and agreeing with the opinions of another/others as to the worth/value of certain patterns of behaviour and/or physical attributes, whether on an individual or societal level.

CHRONOLOGICAL STRUCTURE/PROGRESSION:

Structure of events or narrative which follows the ‘natural’ sequence of time, in a forward motion.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS:

Recognisable elements within a text which help us to identify genre. Made up of iconography/media language and thematic/narrative aspects.

CONNOTATION/CONNOTE

The ‘semi-automatic’ assumptions/meanings we draw from iconography and texts. Meanings are assimilated early on in socialisation and are constantly updated and increased.

CONTINUITY EDITING

The apparently seamless and chronological editing together of a narrative. In classic narratives the ‘recognisable’ elements of a beginning, middle and end. A logical progression.

DEEP FOCUS

Shot where everything in the frame has the same clarity and perspective apart what is in the foreground is as clear as what is in the background.

DIEGETIC SOUND/NON-DIEGETIC SOUND

Diegetic = sound which can be heard within the narrative by one or more of the narrative agents as well as by the wider audience. Non-diegetic – sound that can only be heard by the wider audience and not by characters within the text, ie soundtrack (except in musicals, background music in clubs etc)

FOREGROUNDING

The bringing to the front of any aspect of a text, narrative or iconic. Giving prominence to.

Opposite is backgrounding limiting significance of, pushing to the back.

FORM

Type or kind; particular mode, appearance in which something manifests itself; a fixed mode of artistic expression or representation in literary/media texts; the pattern of an argument; to make, construct or develop.

GENRE

Type. A particular variety of text which is identifiable to its audience through the recognisable conventions/elements found within it. Links to familiarity and expectations.

HIGH ANGLE SHOT/LOW ANGLE SHOT

An image where the shot has been taken from a particular angle in order to achieve a specific effect on the audience. A high angle shot is taken from above the subject looking down which makes the subject look small, insignificant, vulnerable etc. A low angle shot looks up at the subject making it big, impressive or threatening.

JUXTAPOSITION

The positioning of images/and or/graphics in a spatial relationship within a text in order to create a semantic or symbolic link between them.

LOW ANGLE SHOT/HIGH ANGLE SHOT

Media language term used to describe shots taken from a particular angle in order to effect the audience in a certain way. Eg. Low angle shot taken with the camera down low looking up at someone/something makes the subject look more threatening, powerful, imposing etc. and visa versa., high angle makes the subject look small, vulnerable and insignificant.

MISE-EN-SCENE

Everything within the frame/shot that together leads to meaning

NORMALISATION

The bringing within the normal parameters of society. Showing with ‘normal’ or expected patterns of behaviour etc..

OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE

Objective, being impartial, unbiased; having a neutral or no point of view/agenda. Subjective; having a vested interest, a bias, a partiality/agenda. Favouring one side/point of view over another.

PAN SHOT

Movement in which the camera moves from side to side to follow a narrative agent or to show the scale or extent of a location for action

POINT OF VIEW SHOTS

Footage which places the audience in the place of the narrative agent; seeing through their eyes.

POST MODERNISM

Recognition that there is ‘nothing new’ or modern and that everything is in effect a ‘re-hash’ of the old.

PROPAGANDA

Biased or misleading publicity or information that is intended to promote a particular point of view, usually political. Chomsky; the media serve to mobilise support for the special interests that dominate the state and private activity.

REAL TIME/REEL TIME

Real time the actual chronological (natural progression of time) duration of a narrative as seen by the narrative agents. Could be centuries or minutes; as opposed to the length of time that the text lasts for the audience ie reel time.

REPRESENTATION

Quality and quantity of representations of individuals, groups and places in the media. How a group/individual is shown, in what context, and where, influences our perception of them and their values and behaviour and how that fits in with the dominant/mainstream aspects of wider society. Frequent images of certain patterns of behaviour connected with individuals and groups creates a stereotype of deviance or normalisation

SHOT-REVERSE-SHOT

Sequence of shots used in a dialogue to allow close-ups of one narrative agent at a time while enabling the audience to closely watch the reactions of each in turn.

SOUND EFFECTS

Added on sounds to elicit a specific or exaggerated effect from the audience. Usually diegetic, but not always.

STYLE

The way in which something is executed, made or represented. Manner in which something is performed, filmed etc.

SYMBOLIC

Symbol; something that represents or stands for something else, usually by convention or association ; especially a material object to represent something abstract. Can be a graphic sign, an iconic image or a person symbolising another or a wider group. Symbolic relating to use of a symbol.

TILT SHOT

Camera movement which moves up and down to follow the action or to draw the audiences attention to a particular visual reference point.

VOYEURISM

Watching an event we would not normally have access to. Usually refers to the gaining of sexual gratification through watching others indulging in sexual activity

ZOOM SHOTS

Camera movement which takes the audience closer in to a subject or brings them back from it.