as media studies exam

AS MEDIA STUDIES EXAMLesson Objectives: To prepare for the AS Media Studies exam.

Format of the Exam

Exam Format

The exam is 2 hours long. There are two sections to the exam:

Section A: TV Drama Section B: Institutions and Audiences

You will be shown the unseen TV Drama extract 4 times.

You will then have an hour and a half to answer the two questions.

This means you should spend 45 minutes on each question.

Section A: TV Drama

Section A: TV Drama

The question will specify that you analyse the representation of one of the following social groups: Gender Age Sexuality Ethnicity Social class and status Ability/disability Regional Identity

Make sure you understand what each social group refers to.

How can the four technical aspects be used to represent each of these technical areas?

Section A: TV Drama

You will be shown the extract 4 times, and can make notes after the first screening.

You need to use the screenings to identify a wide range of specific examples of how the specified social group is represented through: Camerawork Editing Sound Mise-en-scene

Make sure you know the key terms for each of the technical areas?How can each technical area be used to construct representations?

Section A: TV Drama

Writing your answer: You don’t need an introduction or conclusion for this

section – just get straight onto your analysis. Your essay should consist of detailed analysis of how

representations are constructed through each of the technical areas.

Remember to have a range of examples from all four technical areas.

Use terminology accurately and consistently. Use specific examples. Explain the effect of each example, and relate this

to the representation of the specified social group.

Section B: Institutions and Audiences

Section B: Institutions and ... Both sections of the exam are worth 50

marks each. Remember to leave yourself enough

time to complete the Section B question. You should spend around 45 minutes on

each question.

Section B

You could be asked a question on one or more of the following areas: Production Distribution Marketing Exchange

You may have to draw on your knowledge of:

the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice; the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in

production, distribution and marketing; the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels

of production, distribution, marketing and exchange; the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for

institutions and audiences; the importance of technological convergence for institutions and

audiences; the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences

(specifically, British) by international or global institutions; the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media

consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

Key Areas

PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTION MARKETING EXCHANGE MEDIA OWNERSHIP TECHNOLOGY PROLIFERATION

Answering Section B

Make sure your answer is relevant to the specifics of the question.

Use specific examples from the case studies.

Develop a clear argument about effects/benefits/disadvantages to film studios and film audiences.

Relate your answer to your own experience as a consumer.

Answering Section B

Introduction – state focus, case studies, and your argument.

In the main body of the essay discuss the implications to films studios and audiences of the specified issue – support this with reference to the Disney and Film 4 case studies.

Conclusion – sum up your argument. Consider how this relates to your experience as a consumer.

Exam

Answer both questions. Give yourself enough time to answer

both questions (even if you find Section B deeply distressing).

Use specific examples. Use terminology. Make sure you answer the question you

are asked.

Revision

Don’t forget lots of resources for this exam are on the blog:

http://mediastudiesnwcc.blogspot.com/

Revision Activity – TV Drama Camerawork Editing Sound Mise-en-scene

Gender Ethnicity Sexuality Regional identity Social class and status Ability/disability Age

Terminology, effect, what to focus on.

How can these social groups be represented through the four technical areas?

Revision Activity - Institutions PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTION MARKETING EXCHANGE MEDIA OWNERSHIP TECHNOLOGY PROLIFERATION

Note down:

•Key terms•Key points•Questions and Answers