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Unit 3: Media art

Quick questions on Technical codes in media art: WACE Year 12 Media Production and Analysis Unit 3

2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.

What are lighting codes?
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Lighting is among the most expressive technical codes in media art. High-key lighting floods a scene with even, bright light and tends to read as safe, cheerful or ordinary. Low-key lighting uses strong contrast and deep shadow and tends to read as tense, mysterious or threatening. The direction of light matters too: light from below distorts a face into something unfamiliar, while soft light from the side can model a face gently and flatteringly.
What are editing codes?
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Editing is the technical code of time and rhythm. Pace is the most immediate: rapid cutting raises energy and tension, while long takes slow the pulse and invite contemplation. The type of transition also signals meaning. A hard cut is neutral and continuous, a slow dissolve can suggest the passing of time or a dreamlike merging, and a fade to black can signal an ending or absence.

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