12E Bank Holiday Homework - Section A Practice

You need to carry out TWO exam practices (one/week) in your books (not on your blogs)  for Tuesday 07/5 p3.

Watch each media product THREE times. In between viewings, for about five minutes, you should make notes in response to the questions below. 

Then you should spend approximately 15 MINUTES answering each question, supporting your answers with evidence from the media product.

Remember to include media terminology, media theory, and detailed examples.

Also, don't forget to use the AS Revision Booklet to help you, especially when it comes to knowing which theories/keywords to use for each question.

1. TV Advert: The Gospel According To GHD

• Media Forms: What techniques does the ad use to persuade the audience to purchase the product?
• Representation: How is the gender represented in the ad?
• Media Institution: What issues of regulation and censorship does this ad raise and what does it tell us about the values of the brand?
• Audience: On the basis of this ad, who does the GHD brand appeal to?

2. TV Opening Sequence: BBC's Match of the Day

• Media Forms: What techniques does this opening sequence use to communicate the possible narratives of this programme?  

• Media Representations: How are footballers represented in this opening sequence?

• Media Audiences: On the basis of this opening sequence, what target audience would be attracted to regular viewing of this television programme?

• Media Institutions: How does this opening sequence reflect the institutional values of the BBC and its remit to 'inform, educate and entertain'?

12E Tuesday single - Film Promotion Institutional Research

Research the following questions and post on your blog. Be prepared to feed back your findings.

1. Identify and outline the main differences between the UK and US film industry and how those films are promoted. How are independent films promoted? Collect any facts and figures you could use in the exam.
2. What new technologies are used to promote films to audiences? Are there any changes on the horizon? What are the implications to the film and film promotion industry?
3. Research how people are consuming films. Are many audiences going to the cinema? Have ticket sales in general increased or declined in the economic downturn? Are audiences waiting until films are available to stream online or on Sky/Cable TV? Or do they prefer the cinematic experience? What about DVD sales?
4. Research the impact piracy and illegal downloads has had on the industry. What action is the industry taking to combat this problem?
5. Identify and outline all the ways audiences can engage, interact and shape film promotions. Are they given the opportunity to construct film promotion? Consider audience participation across the platforms and consider how you can apply the Uses and Gratifications Theory to any examples your find.

UNIT 1 Exam Revision

Here is your complete checklist to prepare you for the UNIT 1 exam that takes place on Monday 13th May at 9:00am.

(And don't forget that the mock exam is on Monday 29th April in the hall: 12E at 8.30am; 12D at 10.35am...please arrive at least five minutes early).
Firstly, make sure you use the 6 Part Active Revision Cycle whenever revising:

This is the most productive approach:

1. STEP 1 Read your notes/text book/online resources carefully
2. STEP 2 Reduce/summarise the information (e.g. draw a mind map, write key words on A5 card, write a table, draw a diagram)
3. STEP 3 Learn/memorise the reduced information - using rhymes, acronyms, etc.
4. STEP 4 Do an exam question under timed conditions
5. STEP 5 Review what you have done
6. STEP 6 Traffic light topics (red - don't know it; amber - know it a bit; green - know it well)

A. MediaMagazine

Spend as much time as possible reading and actively making revision notes (mindmaps etc.) using the MediaMagazine (login details: mediamagazine10/ly957mp). 

This is a great resource - up to date information, written by A Level media examiners, with all the key terminology and theory in bold in every article:

• MediaMag past issues library
• MediaMag FILM articles 

B. UNIT 1 Exam Papers (Section A)

Practice Section A questions, under exam conditions:

• AQA Past Question Papers and Mark Schemes

Typical questions (fifteen minutes per question)...

• Media Forms: What techniques does the extract use to establish the text’s genre and/or engage the audience?
• Media Representations: How is gender/ethnicity/age/disability/sexuality/a place represented in the extract?
• Media Institutions: In what ways is the extract typical of the film/advertising/television industry and/or what values does it promote?
• Media Audiences: Who does this text/brand appeal to?

Typical texts (it WILL be moving image in the May 2012 exam)...

• TV programme extracts (drama/soap, news, game show, documentary, etc.)
• Adverts
• Film extracts/ trailers (variety of genres)
• Music videos
• Video game extracts/trailers

C. MEST1 Past Questions (Section B)

Firstly, revise your case studies fully. Go back over the Ill Manors PowerPoint presentations you produced on them and posted on your blogs, looking at each other's for extra ideas. 

Also, make sure you do some additional research from the last few months so you have some up-to-the-minute examples.

These are the key questions you should be able to answer:

How are texts in the three platforms constructed?
• Are there similarities and differences in the way the area is dealt with in each platform?
• What type of media language is used and how?
• How are genre codes used?
• How do texts within the three platforms construct narrative?

How do audiences access texts across the three platforms?• Do the texts enable different types of audience activity and/or interaction?
• Are audiences able to play a role in the construction of media texts? (UGC)
• Are there differences in the audience gratifications offered across the three platforms?

How are representations constructed and are there similarities and/or differences across the platforms?
• What values and ideologies are communicated within the representation?

What institutional issues are raised by the topic areas?
• How are institutions reacting to change in technology?
• How are institutions attempting to reach and engage their audiences?
• What economic issues are behind the construction and distribution of contemporary media texts? 

Then, make sure you complete detailed essay plans on ALL of the past questions, and then practice as many as you can under timed conditions (45 minutes/question):

January 2009

To what extent do the media products in your case study do more than just entertain their

audience(s)?

In your answer you should:

● Provide a brief outline of your case study

● Consider how far the media products in your case study also inform, educate and

provide opportunities for interaction and participation

● Support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms.

Consider the reasons media products from your case study are present across a range of

media platforms.

In your answer you should:

● Provide a brief outline of your case study

● Discuss the advantages for producers of each media platform

● Support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms.

June 2009

 ‘Audiences are no longer just consumers of media texts but producers too.’

To what extent is this true of the media products in your case study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate how far audiences participate in and contribute to the media products in your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

Account for the similarities and differences in the codes and conventions used in the

media products from your case study.

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● compare how and why media products from your case study are similar and/or different within and across media platforms

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

January 2010

Identify how media products from your case study make links with other media platforms.

What are the reasons for these links?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● consider possible links such as targeting audiences, promotion and revenue generation

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

‘All media texts tell stories.’ In what ways is narrative used in the media products in your

case study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● discuss the different ways narrative functions in the media products in your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

June 2010

'Audiences are becoming increasingly powerful in shaping media output.' With reference to your case study, how far is this true?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate the roles of audiences in the creation of media products from your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

January 2011

How far have improvements in technology made a difference to the quality of audience experience?

 In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate the impact of new technologies (eg red button, file-sharing, 3D) on the audience's ability to interact with and/or enjoy media products from your case study

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

Do the institutions in your case study have an equal presence on each media platform?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your case study

● evaluate how and why media products from your case study have more of a presence on some platforms than others

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

June 2011

'To be successful, media institutions have to use a variety of media platforms'. To what extent is this true of your cross-media study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your cross-media study

● consider the possible advantages of using a range of media platforms

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

'Our enjoyment of media products is influenced by the platforms we use to access them.'How far is this true of your cross-media study?

In your answer you should:

● provide a brief outline of your cross-media study

● consider how audiences use and respond to media products from different media platforms

● support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

Jan 2012

1. Evaluate how far audiences are able to represent themselves and/or their ideas and opinions in media products from your cross-media study.

Support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

2. Evaluate how successfully media products from your cross-media study are promoted within and across media platforms.

Support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

June 2012

1. Consider how imaginative techniques are used by media products from your  cross-media study to attract and maintain audiences.

Support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

2. Synergy is the process by which media institutions use a range of platforms to promote, sell and distribute their products. Assess the impact of synergy in your cross-media study.

Support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.

D. Key Media Terminology and Audience Theory

Revise the following really well:

• Glossary: Key Concepts/Key Terminology (the more you include, the better your grade)
• Young & Rubicam's 4Cs (Psychographics)
• How to make sense of audience theories (include some of this in every answer)
• MediaKnowall audience theories

E. AS Revision Booklet

This excellent guide summarises the key theories and key terminology you need to include and provides examples of how to use them in the exam. 

Read this repeatedly in the run-up to UNIT1, revise ALL the main theorists here and practice using them in your answers.

AS Revision Booklet

12D Exam HW: Oscars

12D: Watch this extract...

2012 Oscars: Sacha Baron Cohen vs. Ryan Seacrest

Answer the following in your exam practice books (15 minutes each but planning time is unlimited - watch at least three times)...

- Media Forms: How does the extract use media language to establish the programme’s genre?

- Media Representations: How is ethnicity represented in the extract?

- Media Institutions: In what ways is the extract typical of the Hollywood film industry?

- Media Audiences: In what ways does the extract promote film to audiences?

...please complete for p3/4 on Mon 22/4.

KEY CONCEPTS BRAINSTORM FOR MEST 1 REVISION

12E 10 step CASE STUDY checklist

10 steps to case study success! Be F.A.I.R (Forms/Audience/Institutions/Representation)

1.Identify the target audience(s) for the film(s) – identify demographics and psychographics

2.Research the Institution(s) behind the film – who is involved (cast/crew/organisations/sponsors/partners/owners to the intellectual rights i.e. J.K. Rowling or DC Comics) and how do they help to build a brand for the film?

3.Analyse the print film promotion campaign – posters, billboards, promotional merchandise etc (apply F.A.I.R)

4.Analyse the Broadcast promotion campaign – TV and Radio, trailers and interviews etc (apply F.A.I.R)

5.Analyse the E-Media promotion campaign - official sites, social media and fan sites, virals and in-universe (F.A.I.R)

6.How do these promotions ‘talk’ to the target audience – do different platforms reach different audiences? How? Why?

7.Identify examples of synergy (where a product is promoted across more than one platform) – what audience(s) are being targeted with each platform – is the same or different?)
8.Compare the actual film with the film promotions. What ideas/narratives/characters are left out and which are included? Why? Which audience do they appeal to? Do all promotions work in the same way or do some promotions highlight different elements?

9.Compare similarities and differences between the films in your case study – why are they different and are they successful?

10.Identify which platform is most used by each film and why.