Essay writing

‘Compare the representations of ethnicity in two music videos’

Africa Shox (Leftfield, 1999) and Like a Prayer (Madonna 1989)

CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT

• 1 HOUR 30 MINS

• TUESDAY 1PM – 2.30PM

• BRING…..

Candidates will produce an individual portfolio (30% of GSCE) containing: • comparative analytical assignment (60 marks) • production exercise (40 marks) linked to the

assignment • evaluative commentary (20 marks) on the

planning process and the production exercise, together with evidence of planning.

The comparative analytical assignment can be written (word processed) but may also be submitted as a slide presentation such as PowerPoint or a podcast.

As guidance, written work should be approximately 800–1,500 words in length and this may be divided into sections. For those submitting their work in the form of a slide presentation such as PowerPoint, between 15-25 slides are recommended.

What to Include:

• Narrative (how the story is told)• Target Audience (who it is aimed at)• Background of artist (Leftfield and Madonna) • Conventions of Genre (Electronica and Pop)• Personal Response • Representation (in this case - Ethnicity)• Screen ‘grabs’?

• Add these details to your existing Assignment.

Introductions

• Although they can vary….(one paragraph)

• State what you are going to do in the essay – few short clear sentences. Finally tell the reader what you are going to argue or conclude.

• What else could you include?

Main body

• Major part in your essay

• Typically 3 or 4 points of discussion (though can vary)

• For each point explain clearly your point, showing how this line of essay directly addresses the essay title

• What can we talk about?

Paragraph

• ‘Main point, plus supporting evidence and conclusion’ structure.

• State the main point that you are making at the start of the paragraph; then give your evidence and/ or reasoning in support of the point; and refer back to the main point again as you conclude your paragraph.

Conclusion

• Brief and to the point, no more than a paragraph in length.

• Aim to summarize your essay by gathering the most important of the points that you have made. This summery can then be used to justify your main argument conclusion.

Message?

• The treatment of other races

• Condemns any form of racism

• Suggest that more tolerant and helpful behaviour is required in order to aid race relations.

• Similar to ‘AS’ Madonna’s video ‘Like a Prayer’ opens with diegetic sound of a siren whilst we see a wide establishing shot in low key lighting of Madonna running towards a church.

• Effect?

• We are presented with the image of a burning cross, which is symbolic of the white supremacy terrorism group, the KKK as that is what they used to do. Connotations?

" mississippi burning " - official film trailer -1988

Intertextuality – the way in which texts refer to other media texts that producers assume audiences will recognise.

• Lighting suggests?

What does the Shot reverse shot reveal?

Epiphany?

• Low angle/ Lower position?

• portraying her to be insignificant in comparison to the black saint, which would have caused controversy with the public as blacks were seen an inferior to whites/ Jesus however Madonna reverses this with this shot

Black Jesus/ Saint? Signifies?

Behind bars? Signifies

• When she awakes she kisses the black saints’ foot, as this is a well-known sign of respect, people used to kiss Jesus’ feet so perhaps the black man is a representation of Jesus.

• Madonna then opens the gate to free the black man, which has a deep meaning as it represents that white people are freeing black people from the prejudices and injustices they have placed upon them for many years.

What does this suggest?How?Effect?

• Ethnicity – Characteristics of a social group having racial, cultural and religious traits in common.

• Genre – classification of media texts groups• Iconography – particular signs that we associate with particular genres,

such as physical attributes and dress of actors, settings and ‘tools of the trade’

• Connotation – the meaning of a sign that is arrived at through the cultural experience the reader brings to it.

• Linear narrative – a plot that moves forward in a straight line without flashbacks or digressions.

• Mise-en-scene – ‘put on the stage’ – lighting, costume props.• Representation – the process by which the media presents the ‘real

world’.• Technical codes – camerwork, lighting, editing, sound, sfx• Epiphany - is an experience of sudden and striking realisation. Problem

or situation to be understood from a new and deeper perspective