Codes and Conventions

Codes and conventions

What is a code?

Codes are a system of signs which create meaning.  These are divided beneath two different headings: technical and symbolic. Technical codes are the way that the equipment is used to create a mood and tell a story. Whereas symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see.

Examples of each of these headings are:

Technical - Lighting and sound, as well as editing. A point of view shot can be used to show what it would be like if you were in the position of a character.  It makes the audience feel as though they are part of the film and creates a connection and rapport between the audience and the characters.

Symbolic - Darkness and low lighting: generally used to build suspense and mystery in horror or thriller films.  The darkness symbolises the unknown.

Sometimes codes can fit into both categories - for example music.

In the movie 'Me Before You', we see representation of different codes. The use of the colours red, white and black present various symbolic meanings. Red is symbolic of romance and danger; white, purity and black, sadness. Louisa's red dress is symbolic of romance and heartbreak.

Technical codes from the film include:

• Contrast between bright and dark in clothing 
• Love ballad playing in background
• Rapid jump cuts emphasise energy and positivity in scenes, whereas the slower transitions soften the scenes, making them feel more emotive.

What are conventions? 

Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something or ways that you would typically expect things to be carried out.  There are conventions in any medium, but they are genre specific. For example, a romantic movie would usually follow the idea that a boy meets a girl and they fall in love. This is not to say that there won't be disruption to this. However the overall narrative will follow this structure.

Codes and conventions are generally used together when studying a genre. You would have to talk about how a code is used and follow it up with how it is used in a conventional sense, in that genre. For example, the technical code of lighting is used in all film genres- whether is is noticeable or not. It is a convention of a horror genre to use side and back lighting to generate mystery and suspense.