Which term describes the use of sound, camera angles, types of shots and lighting in media production?

• A. Technical codes
• B. Language
• C. Convention
• D. Symbolic codes

Answer: (A)

Technical codes describe how media producers shape what we see and hear through production techniques such as sound, camera angles, shot types, and lighting. These elements are the practical tools used on set or in post-production to guide viewer attention, establish mood, and convey realism or style. For example, different camera angles can alter how we perceive a character’s power or vulnerability, shot choices control pacing and emphasis, lighting sets tone, and sound design signals mood or transitions. This focus on the actual methods of creating the media product is why technical codes is the best fit.

Language refers to the system of signs and meanings overall, not the production methods themselves. Convention means the accepted norms or standard practices, and symbolic codes deal with signs carrying cultural or symbolic meaning, not the technical aspects of production.