Exercise 1 ~ Codes & Conventions

Codes and Conventions are the familiar and predictable forms and techniques used by media to communicate an impression or idea. For example a Soap Opera setting is always in the living room with too-pretty people who are chronically impulsive. Other examples are:
  1. Westerns:
    • usually depicts a conflict between clearly good and bad
    • setting in "Wild" west
    • characters simple uncomplicated
    • beautiful sweeping landscapes
    • cheap wooden buildings
    • decisions almost always made in a saloon fight
      •
  2. Family Films:
    • plot involves relationships and family conflicts
    • setting usually in living room or kitchen
    • no serious violence or bad language
    • usually a lesson to the episode
    • usually a happy ending
  3. Horror Films:
    • scary parts happen in dark
    • character gets lost or has accident
    • main character is ordinary person
    • lots of surprise scenes
  4. Science Fiction:
    • always set in the future
    • conflict with strange aliens
    • lots of special effects
    • good guys get into hopeless situations, but always win in the last minute
    • space craft always just about falls apart before winning
  5. Disney:
    • often animated
    • good characters fighting evil forces
    • always a happy ending
    6.

Part 1 ~ list some codes and conventions that are used in the following media;

  • Rap music videos
  • Heavy Metal CD covers
  • Teen magazines
  • TV News programs

Part 2 of this assignment is for you to identify some codes and conventions used in 4 more genres not listed above.