The AS media studies course is split into two units: MS1 (Exam) 50% and MS2 (Production) 50%.
Q1. This will be an unseen extract/media which will require you to use your skills that you have developed in class in order to answer the questions accordingly. The question is usually worth 40 marks.
Possible formats are:
- TV/Film
- Magazines
- Comics
- Website
- Newspaper/News clip
- Advertisement (print or moving image based)
- CD cover
- DVD cover
- Radio
- Computers games extracts
- Music videos.
This about the range of codes and conventions that have been covered as well as the codes.
- Visual codes
- Audio codes
- Technical codes
- Written codes
- Language
- Narrative
Q2. b). These questions will usually be based on question one and can include representation.
The questions below can flip each year.
Q2. c) This question is relating to texts studied in class. The question will either ask you about audience or representation. This is usually worth around 15 marks.
Q3. This question is relating to texts studied in class. The question will either ask you about audience or representation. This is usually worth around 30 marks.
Representation: (Positive/Negative)
- Representations will vary depending upon their context.
- They will dependant on their genre. This will affect what is shown and how it is shown as it must adhere to specific plots, mise-en-scene, music etc.
- They will dependant on the producer. Each institution has their own targets and values, which will affect the representations they show. For example, Disney will select and create representations that reinforce their values of ‘dreams coming true’. Whereas Director Tim Burton shows a darker side to the world. produce satirical and dark representations.
- Audiences will interpret them in different ways.
- do they conform or defy our expectations?
Stereotypes
- Stereotypes will change and evolve or even disappear over time.
Audiences
Target Audience
It is vitally important that you are aware of the audience so you can tailor your representations to suit. If you are creating a teen movie then stereotypical geeks, cheerleaders etc will help the audience identify with the characters and genre. Representations that are offencive or unrecognisable will alienate your audience.
- Audiences can be categorised by age, gender, sexuality. ethnicity, religion, nationality, ideologies, culture and background.
- Audiences will respond differently depending on the above.
Technical, Visual and Audio Codes
- Can affect how characters are shown to us and as thus alter our perceptions. Think effects of high angles and close-ups.
Terminology and key words
- Polysemic: When something has one or more meanings.
- Ideology: A set of values/ideas upheld by society.
- signify/signifies/represents/dennotation/connotation.
MS1 Representation Question- Section 2C or 3: Example Structure and Texts to be used for each topic
Introduction:
You need to write a short introduction that refers to the question and that shows you understand the concept of representation so you may include:
- The fact that representations represent groups, individuals, issues, places etc
- Representations are SELECTIVE, MEDIATED and BIAS.
- Representations are CONSTRUCTED by producers to communicate particular meanings to the audience about a group or individual and their position in society.....
- Representations change over time as ideologies and attitudes in society change
- Representations often communicate social ideologies and conform and challenge dominant representations presented in the media.
IMPORTANT POINT:
If the question is worth 15-20 marks (Q2c) you must use 2 detailed examples (no more), If the question is worth 30 marks (Q3) you should use 2-3 examples (preferably 3)
In the main body you must approach the texts you have studied in class. The example you use must be relevant to the focus topic in the question (representations of: Gender, Issues, Regional/ National Identity, Ethnicity, Events, Age). For each textual example you use you need to explore:
1. Define the representation presented- who, what, where, why?
2. Break down how the representation has been constructed through discussing a specific sequence/ print product (focus on audio, visual, technical codes)
3. Identify any stereotypes that are being presented as ‘the norm’
4. Define the ideological implications of the representation
5. Consider if the representation is positive or negative and reasons for this
6. Consider the impact of the representations on the audience
7. Give possible institutional motivations for the representations
Conclusion:
You need to approach the question directly (e.g. women can be represented differently in the media today because... we can see this in.....), answer it by briefly summing up the points you have explored.
