Key concepts within media studies

Some of the key concepts within Media are Media language, representation, audience and institutions.

Media language involves a range of different concepts such as cinematography. Cinematography involves different uses of camera work and technique such as its positioning and the different angles it is placed at in order to create different shots and images within a film. Another aspect of the Media language is editing, which involve special effects and transitions. Special effects within a film help bring a scene to life. Sound is another Media concept which includes diagetic and non diagetic sounds. Diagetic sound meaning the noise and sounds which the characters hear themselves such as the scripts they are performing, or the directions coming from the director. Non diagetic sounds on the other hand are sound which only the audience of the film itself can hear, these include soundtracks and background music to help create tension and suspense within a film, or to emphasise a sad scene. Mise en scene is a term used to describe the things involved on a film set, these include the costumes that the actors and actresses are wearing and even the lighting.

The concept of representation means how a certain type or group of people are portrayed on screen. This relates to sterotyping, an opinion we get on a certain group and a belief that they are all alike based on how we view one member or an idea we are given from others. Certain groups which may be portrayed differently within a film may be based on gender, age, ethnicity and religion.

The audience within the Media are the people that view the finished product after it has been distributed and exibited. Institutions within the Media are the producers, the people that create the film, the distributors and the exibitors, people such as cinemas which put the film on display.