Codes & Conventions

Codes are a system of signs and symbols, usually organised in sequences, to create a message or meaning. Conventions are the accepted ways of doing things and could be seen as being almost ritual. They are also genre specific as each genre has it's own set of codes and conventions that it adheres to, otherwise the genres would not be individual or distinguishable from one another in any way. Codes and Conventions of Media can be divided into three groups:

• Technical -In which camera techniques and shots are used in order to put across or amplify certain emotional influences eg. A shakey handheld camera being used in horror to amplify fear or a low angle shot being used to display a person as a figure of authority/power.

• Symbolic - In which clothing, setting, props, colours and other visual stimulus are used in order to influence the viewers feelings and opinions eg. dark, greyscale shots used for a more morbid tone or brightly coloured clothing and props being used to appear more upbeat.

• Written & Audio - In which the scripted text and sounds (diegetic or non) used will effect the audience's response eg. Quick, sharp, high pitched sounds in thriller and horror movies that will jolt and suprise them or the scripting itself of what must be said and in what way, the body language and actions being used.

Codes and Conventions of Romantic Comedy (or Rom Com):

• Appeals to mass audiences of those in love or wishing to be.
• Shows an obvious couple who and put through some sort of testing or series of misfortunate adventures designed to keep them apart until the happy ending, which is usually marriage.
• Characters in love are probably going to behave in strange or odd ways - Comedic value.
• Typical Male-Female heterosexual relationships.
• Attractive protagonists, especially usually the female.
• A lot of flirting involved.
• Very cliché in their ideas of what 'Love' is.
• Scenes of nudity, sex and intimacy.
• Colour use - Red is a colour of love, sexuality and passion, White is purity and innocence, Pink is love, intimacy and femininity.
• Male protagonists will make a first few failed attempts to impress the female protagonist, which provides more comedic value.
• Characters start out as strangers and seperate storylines until their paths meet.
• Soft, Romantic or catchy music used throughout.
• Usually known for being 'Chick Flicks' as they tend to have more female than male fans and followers.

Codes and Conventions of Horror:

• Lots of Sharp, quick, singular, high-pitched or disturbing noises.
  
• Lots of darkness and shadows to hide the unknown.
  
• Designed to create fear, panic, alarm and dread.
• Invokes our hidden worst fears.
• Captivates the audience enough so that they are still interested in watching and seeing what happens next regardless of all the fear and shock induced.
• Usually build suspense towards concluding in some grand shocking Finale.
• Commonly known to attack human fears of: Alienation, Vulnerability, Nightmares, The Unknown, Death, Sexuality and Loss of Identity.
• There is always a protagonist who may not be, at first, apparent to the audience but will inevitably survive to the end scenes.
• The antagonist(s) will always follow a trait or certain way of doing things which is specific to them eg. The way they kill.
• Will usually involved murder, maiming and gore.
• Seen as a battle of good and evil where good will often stand victorious even after times have seemed darkest and most inescapable.

Codes and Convention of Thriller:

• Involves lots of cut shots and different angles used.
• Music that can be calm or tension building when needed.
• Harsh and abrasive sounds
• Uses a lot of darkness and shadows in lighting.
• Blurred, flickered, distorted or faded shots.
• Psychological; keeps the audience thinking and guessing and so keeps the audience's attention.
• Involves ordinary characters in extraordinary situations.
• Clues laced into the plot/script throughout the film, sometimes focused on in a grand flashback montage in the final scene, an epiphany.
• There is often a twist at the dénouement of the text.
• Audience gets to view itself as detectives - trying to work out what will happen and where the plot is leading to.
• Explores the darker sides of human emotion - Revenge, obsession, hatred, greed, regret, concealment, escapism, passion etc.
  
• The tone of the piece is usually a Dark or Sinister one, giving a feeling on the whole of being mysterious, cold or bleak.
• Involves a protagonist or two facing a great challenge at high costs, which will usually be at the cost of someone's life, in a short or limited time.
• Should open with revealing some of the significant theme/a later, intense scene from the text and/or a character introduction, but making sure not to reveal too much or any crucial information.
• Physical violence and obscenity and usage of prop weaponry eg. guns and knives.
• Should seek to indulge the audience into the world of the film and encapsulate them in it.
• Plot must grip audience attention and entice them into wanting to watch the story unfold and wait, hesitantly, for the final outcome.
• Usually given higher age approvals of 15 or 18 as are directed more at an adult audience than children; delves into the darker depths of the human psyche.
• Opening Titles/Credits - Bold, Deep Colours with a block or fragmented font, with some sort of distortion or aggression about them.
• Begins with Protagonist introduction (Victim/Hero/Villain)
• Villain is usually male due to a sexist view of power and dominance and a stereotype of a killer/evil being. Victim is usually female, or a child, or both (Commando) as they are seen as being more helpless, innocent and vulnerable.
• Storyline not necessarily in chronological order.
• Dark costume; represents evil, sinister, dark side of a character.