useful music video examples/theory here

useful music video examples/theory here

Revision ideas - look at Stephen Hare's blog

Have a look at Stephen's blog for some good revision tactics. He has condensed down section B question areas and picked three key theorists. He has then expanded/ explained the theory and how he had adhered or subverted the key ideas. http://stephenharea2mediatheory.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 Well done , Stephen and let's see what other revision ideas anyone else can share.

revision for the exam

A2 media exam revision from RebeccaAbrahamson

Genre Revision

A2 Media Studies Genre from RebeccaAbrahamson

David Gauntlett on Creativity - worth a watch to help you think about how and why people are creative 'vital for society to flourish for people to be creative participants within their own lives'

'making in itself offers pleasure, thought and reflection' 

HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK- DUE IN TUESDAY 14th

1. Look at Audience Theory/work we have done previously on Audience and make notes on your product ready to do an essay in class on Tuesday.
2. Look at David Gauntlett's theory of audience as mentioned today at the end of the lesson; do a blog post on how his theory can be applied to your product.
3. Coursework blogs

                              Label all posts clearly ie your name on blog posts if in a group
                              Check all links work
                              Resize any posts which are too big ie overlap things (George - look at yours)
                               Put evaluation questions in correct order and one after each other.
                               All students to put music video at top of coursework blog - and check it works....
                               Check layout and organisation of blogs - some really badly organised and need      
                               tidying up

Creativity and Audience Theory

Creativity and Audience Theory

Examiner Commentary on Section 1b

A2 Media Studies Critical Perspectives Examiner Commentary on Section 1)b by Rebecca Abrahamson

Narrative Theory Refresher

Narrative theories from Sarah mediafilm

Exam Commentary on the candidates's responses

Candidate 1
1a (20 marks) The candidate starts well with an introduction which sets out exactly which projects have been undertaken. He moves on to talk about a program used, immediately explaining particular techniques which the program enabled (desaturation) with a reason for using them (creating a particular atmosphere typical to the genre). Technical terms are used accurately and confidently (temporal editing, cross fades, etc). Throughout, the candidate refers explicitly to examples from his work, to a range of programs and to techniques used. Several different programs are discussed in a succinct and clear way. Most of the essay is confined to programs on the computer and creativity is not explicitly addressed, nor are online technologies. However, overall this is worthy of level 4.

1b (22 marks) Though this response is written as if the project is based on theories, rather than with a critical distance applying those theories, it does meet the criteria of level 4. He attempts to relate Propp, Levi-Strauss, Barthes and Todorov very effectively to the narrative. There is extensive use of relevant terminology and application to examples.


Candidate 2
1a (24 marks) This candidate more explicitly addresses the question, with a good introductory paragraph . There is very clear evidence of reflection on progression and explanation of the ways in which the technology was used to produce work. Precise relevant detail of ways of working and how the candidate tried to improve are included in this answer. iMovie, Final Cut and Photoshop are all referred to, as is online technology with references to social media. His final paragraph concludes the essay well, completing the sense of structure.


1b (23 marks) This response addresses the production in detail and attempts to take examples and relate them to different perspectives around narrative and music video. Levi-Strauss, Goodwin, Todorov and Barthes are all referenced.

January 2011 Critical Perspectives Exam Answer

Jan 2011 Critical Perspectives OCR exam from Rebecca Abrahamson

Narrative

G325 jan11 qp from Juliestarchild

Narrative

Useful Theory - link to another school's blog

1(b) Explain how you used conventional and/or experi­mental narrative approaches in one of your production pieces.

 

1(b)Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to narrative.

Section 1.a) Question ( essay 9) apply to music video

Describe how your analysis of the conventions of real media texts informed your own creative media practice. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time

The essays! Labelled and numbered ( as requested!) Now get them done!

1.“Digital Technology turns media consumers into media producers”. In your own experience, how has your creativity developed using developed using digital technology to complete your coursework productions?
2. Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.
3. Describe how your analysis of the conventions of real media texts informed your own creative media practice. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.4.How did the conventions of real media texts inspire you to use new media technology to create the style of product you achieved?
5.Apply audience theory to your own product.
6.. Apply genre theory to your product.
7.Apply representation theory to your product.
8. 'Media is communication' Discuss the ways that you have used media language to createmeanings in one of your media products.
9. This week's...to complete the revision poster, then complete the planning sheet from today(sugar paper) and do one of the essay questions.

Media Theory for Question 1

Theories to Include in Question 1a

Question 1a and Question 1b - Past questions and Exam Advice from Pete Fraser

 

Here are ALL previous questions for each element, from the exams in Jan and June 2010 and Jan 2011 and 2012.

Section A

1a
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.

Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Describe how your analysis of the conventions of real media texts informed your own creative media practice. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Describe a range of creative decisions that you made in post-production and how these decisions made a difference to the final outcomes.

1b

Analyse media representation in one of your coursework productions.

Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to genre.

Apply theories of narrative to one of your coursework productions.

Analyse media representation in one of your coursework production.

Explain how meaning is constructed by the use of media language in one of your coursework production.

How to approach question 1a
How to approach question 1b

Creativity Quotes to help

Creativity is ‘A process needed for problem solving…not a special

gift enjoyed by a few but a common ability possessed by

most people’

(Jones 1993)


'The making of the new and the rearranging of the old' (Bentley 1997)

Your focus today- making a revision poster

OCR A2 Media Studies Revision Poster Information for Section 1a by Rebecca Abrahamson

Advice on how to prepare for Section 1a) of the exam

Answering question 1 a from Andy Wallis

Skills Application Task- Wonderland cover analysis

 

Task: In talk partners (each group has a different cover)

 

Analyse the codes and conventions of your Wonderland cover using media language. Look at last lesson's notes to guide you.

1. Either annotate the cover or make some notes on paper around the cover.
2. Look for the micro elements ( mise en scene, camera shot/angle, layout, graphology) that suggest certain meanings about the cover.
3. Feedback to the class about what the overall meaning of your cover is aiming to communicate to its audience about its magazine contents and featured artist/contents.

 

 

 

 

Media Language Scaffold

Scaffold fAor Media Language by Rebecca Abrahamson

Media Language Essay

Example answer for question 1b from Media Studies

Media Langauge

Media language all from Rebecca Abrahamson

Most viewed music videos of 2012...

MOST VIEWED MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2012

Media Language

Media Language

You should aim to apply the MEDIA LANGUAGE theory/theorists which can be applied to your c/w (don’t describe, apply it/does it apply).

You will need to write about:

• Denotations

• Connotations

• Anchorage

• Semiotics

– Barthes – codes (see above)

– Saussure - Saussure dealt with the overall code of language, he stressed that signs are not meaningful in isolation, but only when they are interpreted in relation to each other.

And…any of the aforementioned theories can fit neatly into this question.

Questions to Consider

· What does the imagery of the video suggest?

· How was the video shot? What was the purpose of shooting the music video in this way?

· Is the editing noticeable? If so why, if not why not?

· What editing techniques have you used and why, what meaning will be derived from it?

· Consider your use of titles

· How did the video's editing affect time, e.g. did it contract it or expand it? How was this done, e.g. what transitional clues were given?

· In what way(s) did the sound contribute or detract from the video?

· Was the sound distorted or heightened at any point? What might have been the purpose for this?

· Does the title of the song indicate in any way what the video is about? If it does, then in what way(s) is the title reflected in the video? If not, what is the significance of the title in the video?

· What are the chief images of the video? Is there anything interesting about the lighting, the camera angles, the sound, the timing which would reinforce a particular theme? Are there significant symbols?

Applying Representation Theory - group work

ì  What signifiers are used?  What meaning is produced?

ì  What social groups are being represented?  What is shown to be normal/deviant? 

ì  Who constructed the representation?  Why?

ì  Are stereotypes used?  What effect do they have?

ì  Which characters are dominant/submissive?

ì  Who are the objects/subjects of the gaze?

What ‘reality’ is represented?  How does the representation relate to the ‘reality’?

Hall emphasises the importance of visual representation

Saussure' s concept is that langauge creates meaning: Signs can be words, images, sounds, objects

Dyer(1983)- what is being represented and how?

Baudrillard (1980s)- There is no distinction between reality and representation, only the simulacrum. Simulacrum – a copy that now has more reality than the object it is a copy of.

Perkins (1979)- stereotypes

Head up each hexagon as follows:
introduction- what we mean by representation
youth seems to be the hegemonic norm /dominant ideology- so how is youth represented in this video?
mise-en-scene
character(s)
camera
editing
theory + example from text
theory + example from text
theory + example from text
simplistic representatation -conclusion

Representation- another useful powerpoint

Representation from jphibbert1979

Hexagon Planning- past question and breaking it into helpful chunks

“Representations in media texts are often simplistic and reinforce dominant ideologies so that audiences can make sense of them.”

Evaluate the ways that you have used/challenged simplistic representations in one of the media products you have produced.

 

 

 

Your starter today; apply representation theory to this magazine

Applying theory of Representation Chris Brown Vibe magazine as practice ( G325) by Rebecca Abrahamson

Representation

Key vocabulary for today's lesson:

Denote Reality

Symbol Sign

Layers Society

Stereotype Archetypal

Countertype Reaction

Mise-en-scene Hierarchy

Connote Subversive

Representation relates to how a ‘thing’ (person, place, object, concept) is presented to an audience. This is a ‘re-presentation’ as the ‘thing’ has been through a process of modification, mediation and selection before being presented. Even words and photographs are ‘re-presentations’. The physical shape of a word has no meaning in itself – it is merely lines and curves. It has been given an agreed and accepted meaning. A photograph is not the ‘thing’ but an image or representation of the ‘thing’.

Understanding the central concept thatpresentation has been constructed and meaning is negotiated or accepted and agreed, means that we can examine representations more critically and analytically.

Stereotypes :
Tessa Perkins (1979) argues that Stereotypes are not ‘simple’. They contain complex understanding of and information about roles and status in society. Perkins also argued that they are not always negative and often contain truth.
Look at your music video.

Who is being represented?In what way?Why is the object/person being represented this way?

Is this representation fair and accurate?

What is the significance of the mise-en-scene?

What are the non-verbal structures of meaning in the text? (e.g. gestures, facial expressions, position, clothing, prop?)

What are the dominant images/symbols and how do they link to the theme?

Are there any stereotypes? How have these stereotypes been reinforced?

What are the dominant images/symbols and how do they link to the theme?


Who are the representations aimed at? Are they aspirational images for the

audience?

Who is creating the representation [institutional context, director/auteur] and why?

What is the institutional / production context and what constraints does this involve

[budget, studio/production company, genre]

Are there genre restraints on the representation – eg women must appear differently

in horror and musicals.

How are representations affected by social/historic context [key events,

contemporary social values, changes in society, ideological context]

'Stereotypes are not one-dimensional distortions of reality. In order to gain credibility and

widespread cultural currency, they usually

contain an element of truth... The most

powerful stereotypes tend to be rooted in a degree of reality which is then naturalised

rather than questioned in order to pass judgement about the inevitability of such a situation

or behaviour... The danger is little attention is paid to the function of the stereotype within

the narrative. Is the audience invited to denigrate, laugh at the character.’
B.Dutton,

Some critics, like Stuart Price, would argue that representations reinforce

dominant

ideologies

in society:

'If gender differences are socially constructed, and society itself is based on unequal

relations of power, then we can see why many writers argue that mainstream

representations will be biased against subordinate groups. Dominant ideology is

supposedly used to keep the downtrodden in their place... Ideologies of gender

promote sexist representations of women... ideologies make equalities and

subordination appear natural.'

Other critics would argue that representations in the media can challenge and subvert

dominant ideologies in society.

 

Some Representation Terms

Dominant-  the main way a group are seen in society.

Alternative -a different way to show a group, either by the group itself

or by the maker of the image.

Redundant - when a group is shown often enough, in the same way, the

image no longer has any power.

Absent - When a group is not really shown in society.

Entropic When there is a really challenging or v. different, or

controversial image of a group.

 

REPRESENTATION theories to consider
 

 

Hegemonic Marxist theory

The hegemonic approach argues that media industries operate within a structure that

produces and

reinforces the dominant ideology via a consensual 'world view'. Rather

than the owners having direct control, they have established an order within which to produce

values and ideas that appear to be 'natural'. This world view is

produced predominantly by

white, middle class, middle aged, heterosexual men. These are the people who write

the television shows, report the news, direct the cameras or commission others to do

this work. It is their ideas and values that infiltrate media texts and insure that 'other'

voices do not get heard.

PluralismThe most significant factor is the

ability of the audience to

consume the media for their own gratifications and needs.

In this way, the audience is

active in the meaning process

and thus dilutes the debate about audiences being

manipulated into the acceptance of dominant ideology.


























 

Tasks for today

1. read and understand the power point below
2. take screen grabs of your video and magazine and make notes
3. think about
• how have you represented your artist? comment on mise-en-scene ( clothing, hair, props e.g instruments, location, )
• how did your research and planning inform you about how you wanted to represent your artists? (UK Tribes etc)
• is this a stereotypical representation( Tessa perkins ) or have you challenged this?
• how will the audience respond to the artist(s)?
• what have you done with mode of address( how you 'speak' to your audience) through cover lines, colour palette, postioning, screen time, edits...)

Representation Theory from today

A2 media Representation by Rebecca Abrahamson

Genre

Genre theory (2012 lesson 1) from nicolanais

I did do a lovely powerpoint but have lost it :( Here's one someone else made

Homework for Tuesday 12th March 2013

Remeber to use your scaffold sheet to help you to structure this essay (used in the lesson on Tuesday)

‘Describe how your analysis of the conventions of real media texts informed your own creative media practice. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time’

  (July 2012

Alternative readings of film posters

Alternative readings of film posters

 

 

Robert Smyth Media Blog

Evaluating your own work with audiences

 Without an audience there isn’t much point in producing a

 text, so we can start  by saying that the audience is crucial. If

 the text appeals to the audience then it is a successful text.


Choose one of your productions (main or ancillary, AS or A2) and explain how you selected and targeted a specific audience.

 

You could consider:


·
How you chose a target audience in relation to the genre and form you selected.
·
Whether you targeted an existing audience which already enjoys specific existing products like yours.


· How you made creative choices to appeal to this target audience.

· How you think your target audience will use your text (consider uses and gratifications here)

· How your media text could be marketed to the target audience (e.g. making use of social networking and other interactive technology)

-Under Stuart Hall’s theory of ‘Preferred Readings’ what type of ‘reading’ might this target audience give to your text?

Grade the essay using your mark scheme - what Level would you award it? Why? How would you improve it?

G325 regulation june 2011 from leannacatherina

Tuesday 26th February- what we will be doing...

Learning Objectives: To build on knowledge of Audience Theory and to answer past exam question 1. Audience booklet ( credit due to Mr Smith for making this booklet, by the way) needs to be completed; I will test you on the questions at the strat of the lesson! 2.AFL task Using the mark scheme provided, give a Level and mark to the essay your are shown. Give reasons for WHY you gave it this mark and HOW you would improve it. 3. Apply audience theory to your own product Complete for homework

Media Knowall - click on the link for audience theory

mediaknowall blog - excellent help on audience theory

A music video to apply audience theory to

Audience Theory

A2 Media Studies Audience theory from Rebecca Abrahamson

Audience Theory: Starter

Look at the 4 images. They should be very familiar!

 

 

 

 

1) Why do audiences choose to consume certain texts?

2) How do they consume texts?

3) What happens when they consume texts? ( What do they gain?)

 

4) Who is the audience for these texts?