Textual analysis

Textual analysis is the process of breaking down a text into its various elements and studying them to analyse how meaning is created. When analysing moving image media (such as film or television) we must examine the following areas:

* camerawork (shots, angles, movements)

* editing (how shots have been put together)

* sound (both digetic and non digetitic
* special effects (if there are any)

* mise-en-scene (costume, make-up, facial expression, props, setting, performance)

wide shot/establishing shot


Long shot

3/4 shot

mid shot

medium close up close up

big close up

extreme close up

Camera movements:

* crab - the camera moves sideways, like a crab does.

* pan - the camera stays in the same spot but pivots left or right

* tilt - the camera stays in the same spot but tilts up or down

* dolly - also known as tracking, the camera moves backwards or forwards

* stedicam - the camera is fixed and will not shake or wobble at all

* hand-held camera - the camera is hand-held