Wednesday, 7 May 2025

UNSEEN ANALYSIS: GLOSSARY (PART TWO)

Media Studies Glossary (Unseen Analysis)

Part Two:

The second section contains a range of terms that you could include in your essays. Most of these are relevant to print media, but I have included some camera movement terminology which may be relevant if writing about music videos. 

IMAGE

Mise en Scene

A French term meaning “placing on stage”; refers to everything visible in a scene that contributes to meaning and storytelling.

  • Costume (Clothing): Indicates character identity, era, status, occupation, or theme.

  • Hair and Makeup: Reflects character style, age, health, period, or symbolic traits.

  • Cast - Model/Actor: Who appears in the shot, chosen for look, skill, or symbolic value.

  • Props: Objects used by characters or featured in the scene that carry narrative or symbolic weight.

  • Set/Location: The physical setting—natural or constructed—that grounds the scene in context.

  • Proxemics: The physical distance between characters; reveals relationships or social dynamics.

  • Framing: Composition within the frame, affecting what is included/excluded, focus, and impact.

  • Facial Expression: A key part of non-verbal communication that suggests emotion or thought.

  • Body Language: Posture, gestures, and stance that convey mood, intent, or personality.

  • Blocking: The precise movement and positioning of actors within a scene; helps create dynamic visual storytelling.

  • Depth of Field: The range of focus in a shot; shallow depth isolates subjects, deep depth shows full context.

Shot Type

  • Extreme Close Up (ECU/XCU): Very tight frame on detail (e.g. eyes, hands); intensifies emotion or importance.

  • Close Up (CU): Frames face or object to highlight expression or detail.

  • Medium Close Up (MCU): From chest up; used in dialogue to balance character and context.

  • Mid Shot (Mid): Waist up; shows interaction while retaining character detail.

  • Medium Long Shot (MLS): From knees up; includes more action and setting.

  • Long Shot (LS): Full body in frame; emphasizes movement or environment.

  • Wide Shot (Wide): Similar to long shot; emphasizes subject in larger context.

  • Extreme Long Shot (ELS/XLS): Vast views; often establishing or symbolic.

  • High Angle: Looks down on subject; diminishes power or emphasizes vulnerability.

  • Low Angle: Looks up; empowers subject or adds threat.

  • Eye Line Matching: An editing technique ensuring consistent visual direction between characters.

  • Skew Angle/Dutch Tilt: Slanted frame; used to disorient or indicate psychological imbalance.

  • Over-the-Shoulder Shot: Common in dialogue; shows one character’s perspective.

  • Two Shot: Frames two characters; often used in conversations or relationships.

  • Point of View (POV) Shot: Shows what a character sees; builds empathy or suspense.

  • Tracking/Dolly Shot: Camera moves with subject; creates immersion.

  • Crane/Drone Shot: High sweeping view; dramatic or establishing perspective.

  • Zoom: Optical effect where the lens moves closer or further; draws attention or shifts meaning.

Lighting

  • High Key: Bright, evenly lit; reduces shadow, often for upbeat or commercial visuals.

  • Low Key: Dim, shadowy; emphasises mystery or tension.

  • Backlight: From behind; creates halo effect or silhouette.

  • Side light: From one side; adds drama and depth.

  • Expressionistic: Stylised lighting used to reflect emotion or psychological state.

  • Natural/Naturalistic: Mimics daylight or ambient lighting; subtle and realistic.

  • High Contrast: Sharp difference between light and dark; dramatic and moody.

  • Deep Shadows: Creates mystery or fear by obscuring detail.

  • Bright: Strong illumination; clear, open feeling.

  • Chiaroscuro: Stark contrast between light and dark areas; borrowed from painting, used in noir or drama.

  • Colour Temperature: Warm (orange/yellow) vs. cool (blue/white) light tones; sets mood or realism.

TYPOGRAPHY

  • Font Choice: Shapes meaning, tone, and style of the message.

  • Sans Serif: Clean, modern, straightforward.

  • Serif: Traditional, authoritative, elegant.

  • Bold: Emphasizes importance.

  • Slim: Suggests sophistication or subtlety.

  • Italics: Highlights words or adds style.

  • Kerning: The spacing between individual characters; affects readability and design.

  • Leading: Space between lines of text; affects clarity and flow.

  • Capitalisation: Use of uppercase/lowercase letters to create emphasis or tone (e.g., shouting in all caps).

  • Type Hierarchy: The order and visual size of fonts; guides reader through the text.

LANGUAGE

  • Lexical/Semantic Field: Group of words related in meaning; builds theme.

  • Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

  • Emotive Language: Designed to provoke feelings.

  • Connotations: Cultural or emotional associations beyond literal meaning.

  • Imperative: Direct commands; persuasive.

  • Interrogative: Questions; engages or provokes.

  • Exclamatory: Emotionally charged statements.

  • Pun: Wordplay for humor or clever effect.

  • Alliteration: Repeating initial sounds; creates rhythm or emphasis.

  • Rhyme: Repetition of similar sounds; adds musicality.

  • Monosyllabic: Short, simple words; creates urgency or clarity.

  • Complex: Longer or multi-clause structures; used for depth or sophistication.

  • Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect or emphasis.

  • Rhetorical Question: A question not meant to be answered; persuades or emphasizes.

  • Tone: The writer’s or speaker’s attitude; formal, informal, sarcastic, etc.

LAYOUT

  • Z Rule: Visual flow mimics the shape of a “Z” (left to right, top to bottom).

  • Rule of Thirds: Divides frame into thirds for balance and interest.

  • Superimposed: One element (often text) placed over another.

  • Translucent: Partially see-through; often used to blend text with background.

  • Overlay: Added element, often graphic or semi-transparent.

  • Placement: Strategic positioning of visual/text elements for emphasis (e.g., Bottom Right, Centre Top).

  • White Space: Empty areas that improve focus and clarity.

  • Alignment: How elements are lined up (left, right, centered); affects readability and flow.

  • Hierarchy: Size and positioning used to guide the viewer’s eye.

BRAND

  • Comment on Name/Shape/Colour/Font/Placement etc.: All branding elements work together to build recognition, trust, and appeal.

    • Logo Design: Often symbolic; reflects identity or values.

    • Slogan/Tagline: A short, catchy phrase that reinforces brand message.

    • Consistency: The uniform use of branding across platforms.

    • Target Audience: Consider who the branding is aimed at—age, gender, lifestyle.

COLOUR

  • Red and Yellow and Pink and Green, Purple and Orange and Blue: Each color carries specific meanings and emotional effects.

    • Red: Passion, urgency, danger

    • Yellow: Optimism, energy, warmth

    • Pink: Romance, softness, femininity

    • Green: Nature, tranquility, health

    • Purple: Royalty, mystery, luxury

    • Orange: Energy, creativity, warmth

    • Blue: Trust, calm, professionalism

    • Black: Power, elegance, mystery

    • White: Purity, simplicity, cleanliness

    • Brown: Earthiness, reliability, warmth

    • Grey: Neutrality, formality, balance

    • Colour Palette: The combination of colors used across a design to create mood and identity.

    • Saturation: Intensity of a color; highly saturated = bold, low = muted.

    • Symbolism: Cultural or contextual meanings that colors can carry.

on
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)