1. Key aspect: Language
When being asked about language, you should focus on two things:
Technical codes
Cultural codes

2. Technical codes
Technical codes refer to a variety of different techniques the director may use to create meaning.
Camera angle/framing, sound, music, lighting, mise-en-scene, colour, costume, editing…

3. Cultural codes
Signs that are given to the audience that require some cultural associations.
Sign – Signifier – Signified
Signifier = the literal object
Signified = the associations with that object
Sign = Signifier + signified

4. Example Sign – Signifier – Black cat
Signified – witchcraft, evil, good luck/bad luck, superstition, crafty…

5. As we watch…
Take notes on technical codes and cultural codes (keep these separate in your notes)
Be ready to feed back to each other

6. Opening scene
Coen Brothers 2 shot -
7 Days in May trailer –

7. Notes Intertextuality – when one text references another text
Score: ‘decided the score should include a great deal of percussion instruments,’ to ‘match the deluded self-importance of the characters.’
Joel Coen: ‘something big and bombastic, something important sounding but absolutely meaningless.’