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SWAT Codes and Conventions
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SWAT Codes and Conventions
Analysing Film
What are SWAT Codes?
SWAT codes are:
- used by film makers to create their work and make it meaningful.
- used by viewers to analyse visual texts and discover the meaning.
What are SWAT Codes?
SWAT stands for:
Symbol...
SWAT stands for:
Symbolic
Written
Audio
Technical
Symbolic Codes
- Symbolism is the secondary meaning represented by particular things in a film.
- For example: a backwards cap is an item of clothing a character can wear (first meaning), but could also symbolise that they're a rebel (secondary meaning).
Why Symbolism?
Symbolism helps to add a deeper layer of meaning to the film as a whole.
There are many things that can suggest secondary meaning such as...
Why Symbolism?
Objects
Object can suggest a double meaning.
EG . A cross symbolising Christianity
Bars on the windows suggesting slavery or prison.
Objects
Setting
Settings can often suggests deeper meaning,
EG. Beaches symbolising reflection and contemplation.
Winter symbolising darkness and despair.
Setting
Costumes
Often the way someone is dressed symbolises their attitude or position in life.
EG. A poor person in rags.
A rebel in a leather jacket.
Costumes
Colours
Colours are often symbolic of deeper meaning.
EG. Black symbolising evil and death.
White symbolising peace and purity.
Colours
Written Codes
Written codes are any text that appears on the screen.
Written codes can often communicate specific information more easily than visuals.
For example, if it was extremely important the viewer knew this scene was set in Paris, they would add "Paris, France" to the bottom of the screen.
Written Codes
Audio Codes
Audio codes are any sound that we hear throughout the film.
These include;
1. Dialogue, which assists in character and development.
2. Music, which helps to set the mood of a scene (suspenseful music in car chases, or sad music during a breakup).
3. Sound effects, which are used to make the film seem real. Our world is never silent, there is always background noise, like car sounds or children laughing. They can also add to the mood (a creaking door in a horror film adds to the suspense)
Audio Codes
Types of Audio Codes
Diegetic sound
Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film:
Voices of characters
Sounds made by objects in the story
Music represented as coming from instruments in the story
Non-diegetic sound
Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action:
Narrator's commentary
Sound effects which are added for the dramatic effect
Mood music
Technical Codes
Technical codes are techniques used in the construction of the image, basically how they use the camera.
Technical codes are used because of deliberate choices by the film producers to construct scenes in a particular way.
Camera Shots
- A camera shot is the amount of space that is seen in one shot or frame.
- Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of a film's setting, characters and themes.
- As a result, camera shots are very important in shaping meaning in a film.
Long Shot
A long shot contains landscape and gives the viewer a more specific idea of setting. A long shot may show the viewers the building where the action will take place. It can also give the full bodies of the characters showing clothing and body language.
Long Shot
Medium Shot
A mid shot contains the characters or a character from the waist up. From this shot, viewers can see the characters' faces more clearly as well as their interaction with other characters.
Medium Shot
Close Up
A close-up contains just one character's face. This enables viewers to understand the actor's emotions and also allows them to feel empathy for the character.
Close Up
Extreme Close Up
An extreme close-up contains one part of a character's face or other object. This type of shot can create an intense mood and provide interaction between the audience and the viewer, as well as show intimate details of something.
Extreme Close Up
Camera Angles
It is important that you do not confuse camera angles and camera shots. Camera shots are used to demonstrate different aspects of setting, themes and characters. Camera angles are used to position the viewer so that they can understand the relationships between the characters. These are very important for shaping meaning in film as well as in other visual texts.
Bird's Eye View
A bird's eye view is an angle that looks directly down upon a scene. This angle is often used to establish setting.
Bird's Eye View
High Camera Angle
A high camera angle looks down upon a subject. A character shot with a high angle will look vulnerable or small. These angles are often used to demonstrate to the audience a perspective of a particular character.
High Camera Angle
Eye-level Angle
An eye-level angle puts the audience on an equal footing with the character/s. This is the most commonly used angle in most films as it allows the viewers to feel comfortable with the characters.
Eye-level Angle
Low Camera Angle
A low angle is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character. This can help the responder feel empathy if they are viewing the frame from another character's point of view.
Low Camera Angle
Camera Movement
Composers of films also use camera movement to shape meaning. The following are some examples of common camera movements and how they can be used to shape meaning in films.
Tracking
A tracking shot moves along with a character or object, following it's movements. It shows what that character is doing is important.
Tracking
Panning
Panning is used to give the viewer a panoramic view of a set or setting. This can be used to establish a scene or setting.