Post on 03-Apr-2018
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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G325CRITICAL
PERSPECTIVES IN MEDIA
Question 1 (b) Theoretical Evaluation of Production
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Section A: Theoretical
Evaluation of ProductionThe second part to Question 1 of the exam:
Question 1(b)Evaluate your coursework in relation to a mediaconcept.
In the exam 1 of the following areas will be selected foryou to write about:
Genre Narrative
Representation Audience Media language
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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How to approach 1b.
You need to understand all 5 concepts, includingrelevant theories.
Over the next few weeks you will need to apply
each of these concepts to the piece of c/w youfeel is most appropriate. E.g. you may choose toapply representation to your music video andmedia language to your magazinefc/dps/contents.
If you choose wisely, plan in detail and revisethoroughly, you will be very well prepared for theexam, as you will be going into the exam with 5prepared essays under your belt.
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Prompt Questions
Give a basic definition of your key concept.
Can you think of any media terminology
relating to your key concept? Which theories might be relevant to your key
concept?
How might this key concept be relevant to amagazine cover/contents/dps?
How might this key concept be relevant to amusic video?
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Genre
Genres are categories or types of media text.
Genres are recognisable through the repeated
use of generic codes and conventions:
Iconographies
Narrative
Representations
Ideologies
Which of the above codes/conventions does your
c/w use and how?
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Genre and Audience
Genre offers audiences a structure or framework
Audiences gain enjoyment from spotting theconventions (repetition) and making comparisonswith other films of the same genre
If a text deviates from the conventions it can confuseus, but at the same time we enjoy seeing the rulesbroken
Audiences like the anticipation of waiting for the
predictable featuresHow did you use genre to offer your audience a
framework? Do you think your target audienceenjoyed spotting the conventions or seeing the rulesbroken?
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Narrative theories
You should aim to apply the narrative theoristswhich can be applied to your c/w:
Propp 8 character roles Todorov equilibrium disequilibrium new
equilibrium
Barthes 5 codes (action, enigma, cultural,symbolic, semic)
Levi-Strauss binary opposites
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Narrative
All media texts tell stories. The structure of these stories iscalled the narrative.
A story must have verisimilitude (appear to be real) in orderto engage us how does your c/w have verisimilitude?
It might seem more obvious to apply narrative theory to afilm (see next 2 slides), but if you created a magazine youneed to consider the following:
How is your magazine structured? How does the frontcover lead the reader into the magazine? How does the
contents page lead the reader into the rest of themagazine? Consider enigma codes (Barthes) used in all 3aspects of your c/w. Analyse your dps in relation toTodorovs theory.
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Representation
Everything in the media is a representation - everything wesee is being represented e.g. regions/locations, individuals,groups, places, nations, ideas
Questions we would ask when analysing representations:
WHO or WHAT is being represented? HOW is the representation created?
WHO has created the representation?
WHY is the representation created in that way? What is the
intention? WHAT is the effect of the representation?
Consider the representations in your c/w and answer theabove questions in detail.
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Representation
To maintain a representation of reality, media
language elements such as lighting, music,
editing, camera work and mise en scene are
used. How did you use these micro aspects tocreate representations?
Sometimes, representations are seen to be a
deliberate attempt to create associations andideas for the audience did you represent any
characters in a certain way so as to remind your
audience or someone/something else?
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Representation theories
You might not have studied manyrepresentation theories at AS Level, butconsider how the following can be applied toyour c/w:
Laura Mulvey (the gaze)
Marjorie Ferguson (facial expressions)
Trevor Millum (facial expressions)
7/29/2019 Copy of Intro to A2 Course - G325 Critical Perspectives in Media - Question B -Final Copy
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Audience
Consider: age, gender, demographic profile, socio-economic group, existing/new, lifestyle, values,attitude
Categories A, B, C1, C2, D, E
Is your audience mass or niche?
What would the three reactions to your c/w be:
1. A preferred reading (your intended interpretation)
2. An oppositional reading (someone who didnt likeit)
3. A negotiated reading (someone who isnt the targetaudience but might appreciate it for whateverreason)
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Audience
Every media text is made with a view topleasing an audience in some way how didyou try to please your audience?
Success is measured by the audiencesresponse to a media text and those that donot attract and maintain an audience do not
survive. At the heart of this is the fact that all media
texts are created in order to make money.
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Media Language
You will need to write about:
Denotations
Connotations Anchorage
And
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Media Language
You made lots of decisions regarding the followingmicro aspects:
Camera
Editing Lighting
Sound
Mise-en- Scene
Special Effects: visual, sound and lightingChoose 1 page or clip from your c/w and analyse theabove aspects in as much detail as possible. Analysethe effectiveness of each area as if you wereanalysing the unseen exam.