Codes and Conventions

Throughout my coursework, I will specifically be looking at the codes and conventions of horror film trailers, magazine covers and posters in order to carry out comparative analysis to detect trends in the three products therefore making me more aware of the specific codes and conventions that is expected in a horror genre. Codes and Conventions are always used together, for example, choice of lighting in horror films can be used to portray mystery and suspense and intense music could symbolise something bad is about to happen.

Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. They are a communication system which contains elements which have an agreed meaning that has become understandable overtime. Codes fall into two categories:

Symbolic - Whats underneath the surface:

• Body language 
• Objects
• Setting
• Clothing
• Colour

Technical - How equipment is used in media text to tell a story:

• Camera work
• Lighting
• Juxtaposition
• Framing
• Depth of field
• Exposure

Some codes fit into both categories, music for example, is both technical and symbolic.

Some codes and conventions of horror:

• Blood
• Gore
• Weapons ( guns, knifes, chainsaws)
• Clothing is bloody/ ripped
• Intense music
• Loud noises
• Footsteps, heavy breathing, heartbeat
• Screaming
• Setting (forests, house, ghost town, graveyard etc.)
• Dark lighting
• Fast paced camera movements

Conventions are the rules in specific genres, they're like the rules to a game, if you don't follow the rules then the game is hard to understand. There are general conventions in any medium, but conventions are also genre specific, for horror posters, the colour red may be used to represent blood and gore. For horror trailers, sudden movement or music, a heartbeat, footsteps or flashing lights are considered as horror conventions.