Monday, 2 December 2019

Paper 2 : (Television ) postmodernism in Life on Mars

EXAM QUESTION  

  To what extent can S1 episode 1 of  Life on Mars be seen as a postmodernist text ?  ( 15 )




Which of the following   postmodernist techniques and attitudes does it use , refer to or follow in its narrative , mise-en-scene, performance, visual/audio codes etc. ?



Intertextuality ( explicit specific reference to another media product or genre )

Parody and pastiche ( whole scene or settings in the style of another media product or genre)


Bricolage ( the idea that the entire meaning of a media text is  totally created by  the fragments and references that make it up)


Irony ( less serious in tone, moral/social issues not explicitly discussed in text)

Ambiguity ( no single meaning or message )


Reflexivity ( drawing attention to itself as a media text , deliberately artificial, breaking the fourth wall)


Hyper reality ( an artificial reality made up of layers of media representations that Baudrillard claimed we are all now  living in )

Simulacra ( the artificial objects, people and  settings that make up an artificial hyperreality )





Does it also use more traditional established techniques to connect with its audience , such as follow established genre conventions, create original characters, follow a linear narrative etc. ? Briefly summarise these.

Monday, 10 June 2019

EXAM QUESTIONS

EXAMPLE PAPER 2 with mark scheme and guidance 


All questions  30 marks ( 50 minutes ) if both texts or 15 marks ( 25 minutes) if one text only. 


You must revise Media Language, Representation, Audiences, Industry and relevant Theory for all sections as the questions can be mostly applied to every text.






Life on Mars/The Bridge



1 How significant are economic factors in the television industry? Refer to Life on Mars and The Bridge in your answer

2 Identify how meaning is created through symbolic and technical codes in both Life on Mars and The Bridge, through a sequence of your choice for each text. Apply Barthes semiotic theory to illustrate your points.

3 To what extent do you agree that female characters in both Life on Mars and The Bridge go against stereotype? Apply the theories of hooks and Van Zoonen to your points.

4 Compare how narrative techniques are used in both Life on Mars and The Bridge to create tension and conflict. Apply Todorov’s narratology theories to support your points

5 Account for the global appeal of both Life on Mars and The Bridge

6 According to Claude Lévi-Strauss, texts convey their meanings through a system of binary oppositions. Evaluate this structuralist theory. Refer to the set episodes of Life on Mars and The Bridge in your response.


Life on Mars


7  To what extent can the set episode of Life on Mars be considered a postmodernist text?

The Bridge  

8 Television production takes place within an economic context. 

   Discuss the influence of economic factors on The Bridge.


Vogue/Big Issue


1 How significant are economic factors in the magazine industry? Refer to Vogue and The Big Issue in your answer



2 Identify two contrasting audiences for the set editions of Vogue and The Big Issue and how each would appeal to that target audience.

3 How far do the choice of advertisements in each of the set editions of Vogue and The Big Issue reflect the values of their target audiences and model their response? Apply Bandura’s Media Effects Theory to support your points.

4 How might individuals represented in the set editions of both Vogue and The Big Issue conform or subvert Hall’s theory regarding stereotypes.

5 Compared with the past, David Gauntlett argues that in the media today ‘we no

longer get singular, straightforward messages about ideal types of male and female
identities.’
Evaluate the validity of this claim with reference to the set editions of Vogue and The
Big Issue and the historical contexts in which they were produced.

6  How far do you agree that both Vogue and The Big Issue are representative of the historical and social contexts they are produced in. Refer to the set texts of both magazines to support your response.





Zoella/Attitude

1 How far might Butler’s Gender Performativity theory and Hall’s Representation theory be applied to both Zoella and Attitude with regards to gender stereotypes?

2  How significant are economic factors for both Zoella and Attitude ?

3 Account for the audience appeal for both Zoella and Attitude due to the use of digital convergence. Apply Shirky’s End of Audience theory to support your points.

4 How far do you agree that both Zoella and Attitude might be considered examples of hyperreality? Use Baudrillard’s Postmodern theory to support your points.

5 How far can aspects of identity be seen to affect the way in which audiences use

online media? Discuss, with reference to Zoella and Attitude. [You should refer to relevant academic theories in your response.


Zoella

6  Explain how social and cultural contexts influence responses to online media products. Refer to Zoella  to support your response.

Attitude

7 Explore how the representations on  Attitude’s website position audiences




Thursday, 6 June 2019

PAPER 2 FINAL REVISION DOCUMENTS

As well as looking at the texts themselves and the resources in the pagesabove, I've found some
2 page knowledge organisers and revision guides that cover the paper 2 texts. I can highly recommend them . Good luck !

e.g






Life on Mars 1
Life on Mars 2

The Bridge 1
The Bridge 2



Vogue 1
Vogue 2

Big Issue 1
Big Issue 2 



Zoella  1
Zoella  2

Attitude 1
Attitude 2



Zoella/Attitude revision sheet

Saturday, 25 May 2019

ECONOMIC FACTORS IN MAGAZINES

In demonstrating knowledge and understanding of, and making judgements and drawing conclusions about, the significance of economic factors to the magazine industry, responses may refer to some of the following:


 the significance of ownership within the magazine industry in relation to major publishing companies and independent publishers outside the commercial mainstream
 the nature of the magazine industry in the 1960s, dominated by a small number of publishers, a limited number of titles available, sales of women’s magazines reached 12 million copies per week.
 the nature of the contemporary magazine industry, still dominated by major publishers, but a much wider range of titles available and much greater competition for readers, declining print sales and the impact his has had on the way media organisations produce and circulate content to audiences. Independent publishers need to find a unique selling point to appeal to audiences.
 the different sources of funding/ revenue for magazines
 the significance of advertising as a source of funding for magazines, the requirement for magazines to ‘deliver’ audiences to advertisers, the symbiotic relationship between magazine producers and advertisers
 the way in which production values are shaped by economic factors
 the economic context of magazine production in the 1960s and the present day
 historical context - national/international economy– post-war recession/austerity gives way to new consumer boom in 1960s
 power and media industries (Curran and Seaton)


Vogue and The Big Issue

 the significance of ownership by Conde Nast - global company – international editions. Conglomerates are profit/power driven
 niche audience (Contents Page - art, travel, entertaining) – limited circulation – advertisement dependent
 contract with Sun Engraving printers - high quality colour advertisements
 advertising reflects more wealthy/aspirational audience – Imperial Leather, Rayne shoes on Contents Page (By Royal Appointment)
 quality glossy at higher price – monthly release at 3/-
 increased financial stability leads to innovation – more prepared to take risks - originality of cover styling – marvellous mad midsummer…
 economic stability – expenditure on quality product – high production values – major Hollywood cover star (Sophia Loren); Picnics Probable and Improbable - exotic location fashion shoots - Egypt; more expensive designer fashion – Kurt Geiger, Jaeger; celebrity contributors (Antonia Fraser, Robert Carrier)
 limited choice and viewpoints for audiences– marginalised representation of black culture in Picnics Probable and Improbable shoot
 Risk-averse parent company stifles creativity and limits diversity of opinion (Curran and Seaton)
 How advertising reinforces the brand identity of The Big Issue, demonstrating the symbiotic nature of the relationship between advertising and magazines, for example some advertising for consumer goods but also a high proportion of charity and public information advertising.
 The Big Issue as an independent, not-for profit magazine. Now published in conjunction with Dennis.
 Unique street vendor model of distribution (vendors buy the magazine and sell to the public).
 The lower cover price reflects more modest production values with a focus on social issues as well as entertainment features to appeal to the audience.
 The use of Zinio (online newsstand) to generate additional sales and revenues to support the social enterprise aspects of the organisation’s work.


Candidates may argue that economic factors are less significant than other factors – e.g. audience, context or agenda. Some candidates may suggest that economic factors are more or less important now than historically. Candidates may argue that economic factors either limit or offer opportunity for greater creativity and diversity of viewpoint. These approaches are all valid and assessors should mark on the quality of the response, validity of examples and coherence of the argument.



Tuesday, 21 May 2019

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON case study

Analyse the marketing campaign and industry background for  Straight Outta Compton in terms of the following :




Summarise the  companies and brands  responsible for the funding, production and marketing of the film and any links to media industries  that would help maximise income and audience. How were the members of NWA ( Ice Cube,  Easy E, Dr Dre ) involved in production or marketing ?



Identify its target audience ( mainstream/independent , age ,gender etc. ) based on the following
( budget, genre, plot, characters, narrative, production values , marketability, role of stars/director, visual appeal/style etc)


How one of the official  film marketing posters  has targeted its target audience :  analyse the technical codes of the  poster ( use of  images, text, layout, colour. denotation/conotation, use of stars, promise of pleasure, mark of qulaity, expert criticism, genre indicators etc. ) 


How the  film marketing trailer  has targeted its target audience :  analyse the technical codes of the  trailer ( use of camera e.g closeups of star , editing , mis-en-scene, lighting and colour , sound and dialogue) and the use of reviews and expert criticism , promise of pleasure , stars and other techniques.
LINK : HERE



Analyse the  Straight Outta Somewhere viral marketing campaign  that was used to help publicise the film.   How did this campaign target and maximise  audiences and what techniques did it use to raise awareness of and interest in the film ?
More information here





Summarise the commercial reception of the film : how financially successful was it ? 
Were there any other media products linked to the film that would have also made money for the producers ?

 Give reasons why you feel the film was successful ( genre, producers,theme,audience , synergy with other media products/industries).



EXTENSION TASK :

Read this analysis of the regulation of the film by the BBFC and answer the following questions :

What age  certificate did the production company want for the film  ? Why ?

What age certificate was granted by the  BBFC ? Why ?

Tuesday, 14 May 2019

ECONOMIC FACTORS : TELEVISION INDUSTRY

Responses will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the economic context in which
television production takes place by referring to some of the following:

 the significance of different ownership and/or funding models in the television
industry (i.e. whether media companies are privately or publicly owned, whether they
are publicly or commercially funded etc.)
 the growing importance of co-productions (including international co-productions) in
the television industry today
 the way in which production values are shaped by economic factors
 the impact of risk aversion on television production (e.g. in terms of the
commissioning and financing of programmes)
 the different sources of funding available to producers working in the television
industry today


 In discussing the influence of economic factors on The Bridge, responses
may, for example, explore some of the following:

 how the settings, cast and crew reflect the economic context in which The Bridge
was produced (e.g. the fact that the series was co-financed by Sveriges Television
and Danmarks Radio)
 the significance of the grant received from the Copenhagen Film Fund for the third
season of The Bridge (e.g. the fact that more Danish crew members were employed
on the third season than on the previous two because of the financial support of the
CFF)
 the importance of the €1 million grant received from Creative Europe MEDIA in terms
of supporting and maintaining the programme’s high production values (Creative
Europe provide financial backing for high quality, high budget European TV drama
series)
 the fact that some of the scenes set in Copenhagen were shot in Malmo in order to
minimise production costs

Research industry information for Life on Mars to ensure you know similar information in terms of funding, ownership, franchising , merchandising and fandom and how they affect Life on Mars

Sunday, 12 May 2019

ATTITUDE : Analysis


Using these links , summarise the following elements about Attitude


Homepage




Powerpoint     Essential analyis and summary






Representation :   How is masculinity and sexuality represented in the website  ? Are certain stereotypes or elements foregrounded or given higher priority and focused upon more than others ?
If so, why ?

Target Audience :  Sexuality, gender, age, ethnicity, nationality , location , class ?


Industry:  How does  the website make money ?

                How closely linked is the website to the Attitude magazine in terms of ownership,
                  content and style  ?



THEORY TO USE

 Hall : stereotypes
Gauntlett : identity theory
 Butler : gender performativity
Shirky : End of audience


Tuesday, 30 April 2019

ZOELLA : Analysis

Eduqas  resources and activities

Full revision pack



Use the above  resources and the class notes  to create a written   analysis about Zoella and wider issues in online media.  This should cover the following :





Text : " Zoella "

This should include her blog, youtube accounts and  any other channels.

Technical codes, content , purpose and how income is generated ( if relevant)

How does Zoella produce  income ?


Representation

gender, age and other elements such as class or ethnicity

Use of stereotypes and performativity

Audience

What is Zoella's audience ? Are they passive consumers or part of an active online community   ? Have they changed over the years ?

How producers construct target , attract , maintain and interact with their audiences

Industry

The impact on technological changes ( i.e internet ) on production, regulation ,   profit , advertising, maintaining or controlling an online identity, interacting with  and maintaining your audience.



Related theories :

Hall : Stereotypes

Gauntlett : Identity

Gerbner : cultivation  theory

Jenkins : Fandom

Sharkey : end of audience

Baudrillard : hyper reality and simulacra


Livingstone and Lund : regulation

Hesmonhalgh : cultural industries

Barthes : Semiotics

Levi-Strauss : Structuralism



_

Monday, 29 April 2019

ONLINE Exam questions

8. How far can aspects of identity be seen to affect the way in which audiences use
online media? Discuss, with reference to Zoella and Attitude. [30]


You should refer to relevant academic theories in your response.



8 (a). Explain how social and cultural contexts influence responses to online media products. Refer to Zoella to support your response. [15]


(b). Explore how the representations on Attitude’s website position audiences. [15]

Thursday, 25 April 2019

ONLINE : ZOELLA Social and cultural contexts

Responses will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the influence of social and cultural contexts on responses to the set online product by referring to some of the following:


 cultivation theory (Gerbner) – the idea that repeated, long-term exposure to blogs and vlogs may influence the ways that users see the world
 the interrelationship between media technology and patterns of consumption and response - the context of online culture: more time spent online within target audience age group
 how audiences interact with the media and can be actively involved in media production - the context of audience participation and interactivity
 how audiences use media in different ways, reflecting demographic factors as well as aspects of identity and cultural capital
 how audience responses to and interpretations of media representations reflect social and cultural circumstances, e.g. millennial audience
 Fandom (Jenkins)
 ‘End of audience’ theory (Shirky)


In discussing the influence of social and cultural contexts on responses to Zoella, answers may, for example, explore some of the following:
 the Zoella advent calendar 2017 controversy – interpreted as too expensive by many in current economic climate
 the context of current attitudes to gender –the context of social attitudes and body image – “Who Run the World” – positive responses to “girl power” message
 the context of popular culture –‘Should’ve Gone to Specsavers’ – intertextuality provokes response of recognition and creates humour
 the context of social trends – e.g. baking, fizz, enables audience to feel on trend
 the context of ‘selfie’ culture, self-representation and social identity – audiences share their own constructed identities
 aspirational consumer culture and lifestyle – the cult of the home – Dreamy Bar Cart; audiences respond by purchasing products online
 the social context of raising awareness of mental health – in Panic Attacks, Anxiety: The Update. Responses are supportive and share experiences
 the cultural context of rituals such as Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Christmas: Nala’s Christmas Photoshoot, Booella tag on Twitter. Responses illustrate sense of shared community and greater acceptance of authenticity of constructed lifestyle

Monday, 22 April 2019

PAPER 2 : Television : THE BRIDGE




Using the resources on the blog, class notes and your own research ,  plan and explain the key points about the following areas related to The Bridge  :


Media Language

Genre  : Nordic Noir

Series 3 episode 1 :  technical codes

binary oppositions

Narrative structure and resolution


Representation

Gender

National identity

Audiences

Nationality

Mainstream/niche

Positioning

Audience pleasures


Industry 

Production and distribution

Funding

UK Broadcast and scheduling

Other global  remakes or broadcasts

Relate to genre, content of programme and possible issues




ESSENTIAL THEORY


Media language


Neale : Genre

Todorov : narrative stages

Levi Strauss : binary oppositions


Representation

Hall : stereotypes

Van Zoonen : representation of women

bell hooks : feminism as political ideology

Butler : Gender performativity


Industry

Livingstone and Lund : regulation issues

Hesmondhalgh : cultural industries












Possible questions :

To what extent can Neale’s Genre Theory be applied to the set episode of The Bridge ? ( 15 Marks)



Television production takes place within an economic context. Discuss the economic factors on The Bridge  ( 15 marks)







Monday, 4 February 2019

CASE STUDY COMPONENT 1 : Riptide





Analyse the   music video for Riptide by Vance Joy  focusing on the following elements. Refer to contextual information and technical codes to support your points.



GENRE AND AUDIENCE

Research and summarise the indie genre : conventions, influences, audience  and key artists.
What is the definition of " indie " and does the artist, video fit into this category ?


NARRATIVE AND ICONOGRAPHY

Linear , clear and resolved narrative , or fragmented montage based on the lyrics of the song ?
Analyse scenes for symbolic objects and the meaning they contain .

REPRESENTATION

How is gender represented in the video ? Look at stereotypes, repetitive motifs and how women and men are  framed narratively and through iconography.



POSTMODERNISM

Which of the following postmodernist techniques are used in the video ?

How does this change how  the audience responds to the messages, representations and other elements of the video ? Does it change the meaning ?




Monday, 28 January 2019

ANALYSING NEWSPAPERS : The Mirror and the Times

Analysing newspapers

A  Analyse the following covers in terms of how the technical codes ( main image, headline, pull quote etc.) persuade the audience to buy the newspaper and how the audience is being persuaded to respond to the main news story.Consider issues of iconography, binary oppositions and semiotics.

Then analyse which factors that make up the news agenda  ( threshold,unexpectedness, elite nations etc.) are being considered in the choice of cover story.








Then explain  the following information about the Mirror and The Times.


Tabloid or broadsheet ? Explain the differences between these terms

Ownership :  Who owns  both newspapers ? An individuial or a corporation ? Do they own anything else ? What does Curran and Seaton's theory of power and media say are the risks of some media ownership structures ? Use the media theory resource here and the theory page on the blog to find it.

What are both newspapers'  political bias ? Left or right wing ? What does that mean ?



B Research and find out which organisation is responsible for regulation of the content of British newspapers , and how you make a complaint about  accuracy or offensive  content in a newspaper.  Summarise the regulation theory of Livingstone and Lund  using the theory resource here 



.

Tuesday, 8 January 2019

MOCK EXAM preparation

Your mock examination is on Tuesday January 15 at 9 am.


Here is a link to some key resources for the Component 1 key media products you will be asked about in the exam.

Previous case studies can be found on the blog below, including this detailed analysis task some of you will have completed for Assassins Creed 3 : Liberation



Monday, 7 January 2019

SET PRODUCT : I, Daniel Blake film marketing


Analyse the visual codes, audio codes and moving image codes in the  trailer and poster, as well as your own research, for the following information :


Production information ( director/writer/stars/funding/budget/distribution )

Text :  themes, ideologies and social messages of film, genre, setting, representations, main target audience, secondary audiences, desired response from audience.



Reception : awards, reviews, critical response, political effects, etc.








                      

Paper 2 : (Television ) postmodernism in Life on Mars

EXAM QUESTION     To what extent can S1 episode 1 of  Life on Mars be seen as a postmodernist text ?  ( 15 ) Which of the following...