John Fiske TV Culture

encoding & decoding

TV shows encode meaning Viewers decode meaning

§  Preferred reading

§ Negotiated reading

§  Oppositional reading

The codes of television (p 1276)

3 LEVELS:

1.  Reality

2.  Representation

3.  Ideology

Bones - “The Hot Dog in the Competition”

Analyze ‘Codes of Television’ (reality, representation, ideology) in:

1.  Camera work, editing

2.  Casting

3.  Setting, costume

4.  Action

5.  Dialogue

The Wire – Omar testifies against Bird

Analyze ‘Codes of Television’ (reality, representation, ideology) in:

1.  Camera work, editing

2.  Casting

3.  Setting, costume

4.  Action

5.  Dialogue