G325 Exam Overview
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1) The document provides guidance and sample questions for a media exam, outlining the two sections and what will be required for each. Section A focuses on discussing the student's coursework and progression, while Section B involves analyzing representations of collective identity. 2) Key advice includes using specific examples from coursework, showing conceptual understanding, and balancing theory and textual analysis when answering questions. Theorists are provided for each section to help students incorporate relevant ideas. 3) Time management is important, with students advised to spend an hour on each section, using terminology appropriately, and demonstrating learning across their A-Level studies in responses.
G325 Exam Overview
- 1. A2 Media Exam Lesson Objectives: To develop your exam technique.
- 2. Section A Theorists Sort the theorists into either Representation, Audience, Narrative, Genre. Propp Baudrillard Mulvey Hall Neale Morley Dyer Perkins Barthes Ryall Saussure Todorov Blumler and Katz O’Sullivan Levi-Strauss Williamson
- 3. The Exam The exam is 2 hours long, and has 2 sections. Spend 1 hour on each section. You may want to do the Section B question first as it is worth most marks. Remember to number your answers.
- 4. Section A Section A is based on your coursework. You answer both questions 1(a) and 1(b). Question 1(a) you must talk about both AS and A2 coursework products. Question 1(b) you choose one coursework product, either AS or A2 to discuss.
- 5. 1(a) In this question you will be asked to discuss the progress of your skills from AS to A2 in relation to one or two of the following: Research and Planning Digital Technology Post-Production Creativity Use of Conventions YOU MUST TALK ABOUT BOTH YOUR AS AND A2 COURSEWORK FOR THIS QUESTION.
- 6. 1(a) Past Questions Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time. Describe the ways in which your production work was informed by research into real media texts and how your ability to use such research for production developed over time. Digital Technology
- 7. 1(a) Examiner Advice Strong answers have a range of specific examples. Weaker answers are descriptive. Technical and conceptual terminology needed Evaluation and critical reflection on your work is needed. There needs to be a sense of progression over your A Level – Journey.
- 8. Examiner’s Checklist for 1(a) Creative decision making Process Progress over time Specific examples Reflection on own development It’s about the Candidate
- 9. 1(a) Production Terminology Production Terminology: Moving image Print What key terms will you be able to use in your answer? Conceptual Terminology: Encoding, preferred reading, signifier, signified, connotation/denotation, narrative codes. Link to key terms from theoretical areas (representation, audience, narrative, genre, media language)
- 10. 1(a) Discuss AS and A2 coursework Reflection Progress Range of specific, relevant and clear examples from your coursework Terminology – technical and conceptual This question is worth 25 marks. You should spend 30 minutes answering it.
- 11. 1(b) In this question you will be asked to apply one of the following theoretical concepts to either your AS or A2 coursework: Representation Audience Narrative Genre Media Language For this question you choose either your AS or A2 coursework to discuss.
- 12. 1(b) Past Questions Analyse media representation in one of your coursework productions. Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to genre. Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to narrative.
- 13. 1(b) Examiner’s Advice Stronger answers do 3 things well: Outline the concept for discussion with reference to relevant theorists Apply these ideas to a range of specific elements from your coursework Discuss how well the concept/theories relate to your product Poor answers will lack reference to theory and specific answers. Choice of text is important.
- 14. 1(b) Examiner’s Checklist Showing understanding of the concept (ideally with references/quotations) Applying the concept Textual analysis of the work (ONE PRODUCTION) using the concept It’s about the work.
- 15. 1(b) Terminology What key terms can you think of in relation to each of the conceptual areas: Representation Audience Narrative Genre Media Language
- 16. 1(b) Terminology Representation – visual pleasure, object/subject of the gaze, objectification, signs, signifier, signified, connotation/denotation, hyperreality, simulation, simulacra.
- 17. 1(b) Terminology Audience – encoding, decoding, dominant, negotiated, oppositional, socio-cultural context, reception, uses and gratifications, surveillance, escapism, personal identity/ relationships, cultivation theory, hypodermic model, passive audience/active audience
- 18. 1(b) Terminology Narrative – character types, hero, villain, princess, etc., equilibrium, disequilibrium, resolution, binary oppositions, narrative codes, action, enigma, semic, symbolic, cultural.
- 19. 1(b) Terminology Genre – convention, iconography, codes, product differentiation, capitalist, systems of expectation and intelligibility, socio-cultural, myths, genre supervises the relationship between producer and audience
- 20. 1(b) Media Language Production Terminology - effect of technical choices Print Media Moving Image Use of genre conventions Use of narrative structures/codes Encoding of meaning- using varying processes of signification including camera movement, angles and framing of shots, editing, mise en scene and sound. -
- 21. 1(b) Terminology You may be able to link terminology from other concepts into your discussion, e.g.: Encoding of representations Use of iconography to encode meaning, and communicate narrative information Use of character types in representation Signifer, signified, dennotation, connotation, creation of desired readings, mediation and ideology etc. Accurate use of production terms (think of your AS exams).
- 22. 1(b) Understanding of concept Relate concept to examples from your coursework Range of specific, clear relevant examples Use conceptual language throughout Reference to theorists Evaluation of usefulness of concept/theory to your production This question is worth 25 marks. You should spend 30 minutes answering it.
- 23. Section B: Media and Collective Identity You answer one question from Section B. You are doing the Media and Collective Identity topic. You choose one of the two questions to answer. Do not answer more than one question for Section B. Only do the Media and Collective Identity topic. You need to spend 1 hour on this question.
- 24. Section B Theorists In media representations youth becomes an empty category. Hegemony allows one social class to dominate society by making their way of life seem normal and natural. Media representations of delinquent youth reinforce hegemony by showing what is unacceptable. They also justify more state control of young people – the ideology of protection. Youth subculture resist hegemony through style. Folk devils emerge from time to time creating a moral panic which allows a society to reinforce its moral boundaries (i.e. Hegemonic values). Over time the media can influence how people perceive the world. This is known as cultivation theory.
- 25. Section B Theorists In media representations youth becomes an empty category. Giroux Hegemony allows one social class to dominate society by making their way of life seem normal and natural. Gramsci Media representations of delinquent youth reinforce hegemony by showing what is unacceptable. They also justify more state control of young people – the ideology of protection. Acland Youth subculture resist hegemony through style. Hebdige Folk devils emerge from time to time creating a moral panic which allows a society to reinforce its moral boundaries (i.e. Hegemonic values). Cohen Over time the media can influence how people perceive the world. This is known as cultivation theory. Gerbner
- 26. Section B – Media and Collective Identity In this section you will be asked to discuss the representation of a social group (young people) in relation to one of these areas: How do the contemporary media represent groups of people in different ways? How does contemporary representation compare to previous time periods? What are the social implications of different media representations of groups of people? To what extent is human identity increasingly ‘mediated’?
- 27. Collective Identity Examiner’s Advice Stronger answers were able to explain 2 or 3 theoretical ideas about the relationship between identity and media and apply these to a range of examples. Top level answers engaged critically with the theories – either arguing for or against their validity with reference to examples. Link theory to specific examples from texts Relate your answer to the specifics of the question.
- 28. Collective Identity Examiner’s Advice You must refer to at least two types of media (e.g. Film and television). If you only refer to one type of media you won’t be able to achieve above a Level 1 (U). You must refer to both the past and give a prediction future. If you don’t you will not be able to achieve above a Level 3 (C/B). The majority of your essay must be about the contemporary texts. Limit your discussion of historical texts to one paragraph.
- 29. Theory – Examiner’s Advice When applying theory remember that the theorists are usually not discussing the texts you are talking about. You are applying their ideas to your chosen texts.
- 30. Learning adapted to the focus of the question Clear argument Balance of theory, texts, personal engagement Terminology
- 31. Terminology? What key terms can you think of for this section?
- 32. Section B Terminology Hegemony, hegemonic values, dominant ideology, subculture, style, ideology of protection, folk devils, moral panic, ideological state apparatus, cultivation theory, symbolic violence.
- 33. Historical, contemporary, future Most of the essay focused on contemporary At least 2 types of media Terminology Links between theories and texts supported by examples Clear Argument
- 34. Time Management You need to spend 1 hour on this question. Most of your time should be spent writing about the contemporary texts. Introduction 5-10 minutes Historical text 5-10 minutes Contemporary Texts 30-40 minutes Conclusion 10 minutes
- 35. Conclusion In your conclusion you need to sum up what you have demonstrated in relation to media representations of young people. You need to consider the issue of the relationship between media representations and identity – how does the media effect out understanding of social groups (Gerbner, Gauntlett). You also need to consider how this will develop in the future (e.g. Social networking sites, more power though still limited, e.g. Tuition fees protests).
- 36. Review How long is your exam? How many sections? How many questions do you answer in Section A? What topic are you doing in Section B? How many questions do you answer in Section B? What’s 1(a) about? What’s 1(b) about? What’s Section B about?