A2 Media Studies

1. A2 Media Revision
SectionA:Theoretical Evaluationof Coursework
Question1(a) will ask you to explain how your skills have developed in your AS and A2
coursework in relation to one or two of the following areas:
 Research and Planning
 Digital Technology (including research, planning, and production)
 Post-production
 Conventions
 Creativity
To do well on this question you must:
 use specific and detailed examples
 evaluate your progress over time
 spend 30 minutes answering the question
 refer to both AS and A2 coursework
You need to have selected the specific examples you intend to use for each of the five areas.
Remember the areas overlap so you can re-use examples (e.g. all post-production
examples will be examples of digital technology. For each example you need to include
specific detail, evaluate what this allowed you to do, and explain how this shows progress.
Research and Planning
Example Evaluation Progression
AS 1
AS 2
A2 1
A2 2
Digital Technology
Example Evaluation Progression
AS 1
AS 2
A2 1
A2 2

2. Post-production
Example Evaluation Progression
AS 1
AS 2
A2 1
A2 2
Creativity
Example Evaluation Progression
AS 1
AS 2
A2 1
A2 2
Conventions
Example Evaluation Progression
AS 1
AS 2
A2 1
A2 2

3. Question1(b) will ask you to apply one of the five following concepts to one of your
coursework products:
 Representation
 Audience
 Narrative
 Genre
 Media Language
To do well on this question you must:
 show understanding of the key concept and theories
 apply theory to specific elements in your production work
 use a range of relevant examples
 use terminology
 use theory to analyse your text
 evaluate theory – be critical
 spend 30 minutes answering the question
 focus on one coursework product (A2 main task)
For each concept decide on which theorists you intend to use (at least three) and explain
their ideas briefly in your own words. How can you apply the theory to your media text?
Identify at least one specific example and evaluate the usefulness of their ideas in analysing
your product. Remember you can explain how a theory does not apply as well as how it
does.
Representation
Theorist Explanation Application (including specific
examples and evaluation)
Saussure
Dyer
Mulvey
Baudrillard
Audience
Theorist Explanation Application (including specific
examples and evaluation)
Blumler and Katz

4. Hall
Morley
Bourdieu
Fiske
Narrative
Theorist Explanation Application (including specific
examples and evaluation)
Todorov
Propp
Levi-Strauss
Barthes
Genre
Theorist Explanation Application (including specific
examples and evaluation)
Ryall
Neale
Altman
Cawelti
Hartley
Media Language
Theorist Explanation Application (including specific
examples and evaluation)

5. SectionB:Mediaand Collective Identity
You answer one question in this section on the Media and Collective Identity topic. The
question will ask you to discuss the representation of one or more social groups. You are
discussing the representation of young people in the media.
To do well in this section you must:
 refer to at least TWO types of media (e.g. film and television)
 spend 1 hour answering the question
 focus mostly on contemporary representations (made in the last 5 years)
 refer to the past and the future
 refer to theory consistently and accurately
 consider the extent to which identity is influenced by the media
 present a balanced argument giving different viewpoints
Theorist Key Concepts
Giroux
Acland
Cohen
Hebdige
Gramsci
Althusser
Gauntlett
Fiske
Gerbner
Hall
Introduction
Quote – paraphrase – link to focus of essay/wording of question.
State argument – how young people are represented – effects – influence on identity

6. Historical Representation – Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
How are young people represented?
How might that reinforce hegemony?
What does the film suggest about the effect of media on identity?
WHAT THEORISTS HAVE YOU USED?
Contemporary Negative – Hoodies or Altar Boys (2009)
What was it? What did they find?
What effect do the representations have?
Do media representations influence perceptions or not? Yes – Gerbner/Althusser No –
Hall/Fiske
(Contemporary Negative – Hoodie Cinema – Harry Brown (2009))
Relate to Newspaper study.
How are young people represented? Effects?
WHAT THEORISTS HAVE YOU USED?
Contemporary Sympathetic – Misfits (2009-13) YOU MUST REFER TO MISFITS
Use of negative stereotypes – explain how?
How does the representation become more positive?
What does the representation suggest about the effect of media representations?
Attack the Block (2011) Compare to Misfits – subverting negative stereotypes.
The Selfish Giant (2013) Use of negative stereotypes about working class youth –
representation encourages sympathy – suggests hegemonic middle class society fails them.
What do these representations tell us about the role of media in influencing identity? (e.g.
contradictory messages – effect of media complex)
WHAT THEORISTS HAVE YOU USED?
‘Generation Citizen’ (2014) study by DEMOS thinktank (include if you have time)
Findings about representations of young people.
Responses from young people and teachers.
What does the study suggest about how people respond to media representations of young
people?
Relate to theory (e.g. Hall/Fiske).
Conclusion
Sum up your argument – how are young people represented? What effect do the
representations have?
What conclusions can you draw about the relationship between media and collective
identity?
What do you think will happen to media representations of young people in the future?