📚 Media Studies Key Vocabulary Quick Memory Guide | 媒体研究关键术语速记指南
Building a solid foundation in Media Studies starts with learning the right words. This guide introduces the essential terms every Year 7 student should know, along with easy ways to remember them. From understanding what ‘media’ actually means to spotting how camera angles tell a story, each word comes to life with simple explanations and memory tricks. Whether you are analysing a film poster, a news website, or a music video, these terms will help you speak and write about media with confidence.
为媒体研究打下扎实基础,首先要学会正确的术语。本指南介绍了每个Year 7学生必须掌握的关键词汇,并提供简单好记的方法。从理解“媒体”的真正涵义,到分辨镜头角度如何讲述故事,每个术语都配有浅显的解释和速记技巧。不论是分析一张电影海报、一个新闻网站还是一支音乐录影带,这些词汇都能帮助你自信地讨论和书写媒体作品。
1. Media and Medium | 媒体与媒介
The word ‘media’ is the plural of ‘medium’, meaning a channel or tool used to communicate. When we talk about ‘the media’, we mean all the different ways information and entertainment reach large audiences: television, radio, newspapers, social media, films, and more. Think of a medium as the bridge between a producer and an audience. A simple memory trick: ‘A medium carries a message, just as a truck carries goods.’ Whenever you hear ‘medium’, imagine a delivery service for ideas.
“媒体(media)”是“媒介(medium)”的复数形式,意指用于传播信息的渠道或工具。当我们谈论“媒体”时,指的是信息与娱乐抵达广大受众的各种方式:电视、广播、报纸、社交媒体、电影等等。可以把媒介想象成生产者和受众之间的桥梁。一个简单的记忆窍门:“媒介传递信息,就像卡车运送货物。”每当听到“medium”,就在脑海中想象一个运送想法的快递服务。
2. Audience | 受众
An audience is any group of people who receive a media text. Audiences can be massive, like everyone watching a World Cup final, or small and specific, like readers of a niche magazine. Media producers always think about their target audience – the specific group they aim to reach. To remember this term, link ‘audience’ with ‘audio’ – an audience listens and watches. Ask yourself when studying a media product: who is this made for? How might different people react to the same image or headline?
受众是指接收媒体文本的任何人群。受众规模可以很庞大,比如观看世界杯决赛的每一个人,也可以很小众,比如某本专业杂志的读者。媒体生产者始终考虑他们的目标受众——他们希望触达的特定群体。为了记住这个术语,可以把“audience”和“audio”(声音)联系起来——受众会倾听和观看。在分析媒体产品时,问自己:这是为谁制作的?不同的人对同一张图片或同一条标题会有什么不同的反应?
3. Genre | 类型
Genre is a French word that means ‘type’ or ‘kind’. In Media Studies, genre helps us group texts that share similar features: horror films, pop music, broadsheet newspapers, first-person shooter games, and so on. Genres give audiences clues about what to expect, through familiar ingredients like setting, characters, and style. A quick memory aid: think of a genre as a recipe. A horror film often includes dark lighting, jump scares, and isolated houses; if these ‘ingredients’ change too much, the dish no longer tastes like horror.
Genre 是一个法语词,意为“类型”或“种类”。在媒体研究中,genre 帮助我们把具有相似特征的文本归类:恐怖电影、流行音乐、大报、第一人称射击游戏等等。类型通过人们熟悉的配方——如场景、人物和风格——向受众暗示作品内容。一个快速记忆法:把类型想象成一份食谱。恐怖片常常包含昏暗光线、突发惊吓和偏僻房屋;一旦这些“原料”变化太大,这道菜就不再有恐怖片的味道了。
4. Narrative | 叙事
Narrative simply means story – the way a sequence of events is organised to make meaning for an audience. Every media text, from a TV advert to a news bulletin, has a narrative structure, even if it is very short. Narratives have a beginning, middle, and end, and they usually involve characters facing a problem or conflict. To remember narrative, think of the abbreviation ‘BME’ (Beginning, Middle, End). Another useful trick is to use the word ‘narrate’: a narrator tells a story, so narrative is the story being told.
叙事就是故事——一种将一系列事件组织起来、为受众制造意义的方式。从电视广告到新闻简报,每一个媒体文本都有叙事结构,哪怕篇幅很短。叙事包含开始、中段和结尾,通常还会让角色面临问题或冲突。要记住 narrative,可以想想缩写“BME”(开始、中段、结尾)。另一个好用的窍门是借助单词“narrate”:叙述者讲述故事,而 narrative 就是被讲述的故事。
5. Representation | 再现
Representation is how the media shows us people, places, events, and ideas. It is not a mirror of reality but a carefully constructed version. For example, a news photograph of a politician can make them look strong or weak depending on the angle and moment chosen. To understand representation, ask: what is included, what is left out, and what effect does that have? A quick memory sentence: ‘Media re-presents the world; it does not just present it.’ The prefix ‘re-‘ means ‘again’, so representation is always a second version, not the original.
再现是指媒体如何向我们展示人物、地点、事件和观念。它不是现实的一面镜子,而是一个精心构建的版本。例如,一张政治人物的新闻照片,根据拍摄角度和选取的瞬间,可以让人物看起来强势或弱势。要理解再现,可以问自己:什么被放进来了,什么被省略了,这又产生了什么效果?一句速记句子:“媒体重新呈现(re-presents)世界,而非仅仅呈现(present)它。”前缀“re-”表示“再次”,因此再现永远是第二手版本,而不是原本。
6. Denotation and Connotation | 明示义与隐含义
Denotation is the literal, dictionary meaning of a sign – what you actually see or hear. Connotation is the deeper, associated meaning – the feelings and ideas a sign suggests. For instance, a red rose denotes a flower with red petals; it connotes romance, love, or even political parties depending on the context. To keep these two terms straight, use the phrase: ‘Denotation is what you detect with your eyes and ears; connotation is what you connect in your mind.’ Always start your analysis with denotation, then move to connotation.
明示义(denotation)是一个符号的字面、字典含义——你实际看到或听到的东西。隐含义(connotation)则是更深层的联想含义——符号所激发的情感和想法。比如,一朵红玫瑰的明示义是一株有红色花瓣的花;根据语境,它的隐含义则可能是浪漫、爱情,甚至是某个政党。为了分清这两个术语,可以用这句话:“明示义是你用眼睛和耳朵探测到的,隐含义是你在脑海中联想到的。”分析时,永远先说明示义,再过渡到隐含义。
7. Mise-en-scène | 场面调度
Mise-en-scène is a French term meaning ‘placed in the scene’. It covers everything you can see in a single frame: setting, props, costume, lighting, colour, and the position of characters. Directors use mise-en-scène to create mood and give the audience information without words. A useful memory image: imagine you have paused a film; everything in that frozen picture is mise-en-scène. When analysing, break it down using the word ‘CLAMPS’ – Costume, Lighting, Actors (placement and expression), Make-up, Props, Setting.
Mise-en-scène 是个法语词,意为“置于场景之中”。它涵盖了一个画框内你能看到的一切:场景、道具、服装、灯光、颜色以及人物的位置。导演运用场面调度来营造气氛,并在不依赖台词的情况下向观众传递信息。一个有效的记忆画面:想象你按下了电影的暂停键;那一帧定格画面中的一切就是场面调度。分析时可以用“CLAMPS”这个词来拆解——服装(Costume)、灯光(Lighting)、演员(Actors,站位与表情)、化妆(Make-up)、道具(Props)、场景(Setting)。
8. Camera Shots and Angles | 镜头与角度
Camera shots refer to how much of the subject or setting is shown in the frame. Key shots include: extreme long shot (shows the environment, character is tiny), long shot (full body), mid-shot (waist up), close-up (face fills the frame), and extreme close-up (just the eyes or a detail). Camera angle is the position of the camera in relation to the subject: high angle (camera looks down, making subject seem small or weak), low angle (camera looks up, making subject seem powerful), and eye level (neutral). Remember: ‘Shot is about distance; angle is about power.’
镜头景别指的是画框中呈现的人物或场景的范围。主要有:极远景(展现环境,人物很小)、全景(全身)、中景(半身)、特写(脸部充满画面)和大特写(只有眼睛或某个细节)。摄像机角度则是镜头相对于被摄体的位置:俯角(镜头向下拍,使主体显得渺小或软弱)、仰角(镜头向上拍,使主体显得强大)、平视(中立)。记住:“景别关乎距离;角度关乎权力。”
9. Editing | 剪辑
Editing is how shots are selected and arranged to create a finished media product. The speed of editing (fast cuts can create excitement; slow cuts can feel calm or serious) and the order of shots affect meaning. A common editing technique is the cut, but there is also the fade, dissolve, and jump cut. A memory trick: think of editing as a ‘visual sentence’. Just as words are arranged to build a sentence, shots are arranged to build a sequence. ‘Cut on action’ – changing shot during a movement – keeps the flow smooth and invisible.
剪辑是指如何选择和排列镜头,以制作出一个完整的媒体产品。剪辑节奏(快速切换能制造兴奋感;缓慢切换则显得平静或严肃)和镜头顺序都会影响意义。常见的剪辑手法有切、淡入淡出、溶接和跳接。一个记忆窍门:把剪辑想象成“视觉句子”。就像词语排列构成句子一样,镜头排列构成一个段落。“动作剪辑”——在人物动作进行中切换镜头——能使流畅感不被察觉。
10. Sound | 声音
Sound in media is divided into two main types: diegetic and non-diegetic. Diegetic sound is any noise that comes from the world of the film, such as characters talking, doors slamming, or music playing from a radio on screen. Non-diegetic sound exists outside the story world; only the audience hears it – things like voice-over narration, background music (soundtrack), and sound effects added for dramatic impact. To distinguish them, remember: ‘diegetic = in the story (characters can hear it); non-diegetic = outside the story (only we hear it).’ Think of the ‘fourth wall’: non-diegetic sound breaks it.
媒体中的声音分为两大类:叙事内声音和非叙事内声音。叙事内声音指来自影片世界内部的任何声响,例如角色对话、关门声,或画面中收音机播放的音乐。非叙事内声音存在于故事世界之外,只有观众能听到,比如画外音解说、背景音乐(原声带)以及为强化戏剧效果添加的音效。要区分它们,可以记住:“叙事内 = 故事之内(角色听得到);非叙事内 = 故事之外(只有我们听得到)。”想象“第四堵墙”:非叙事内声音打破了这堵墙。
Published by TutorHao | Media Studies Revision Series | aleveler.com
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