Online research sources
The next step for our critical investigation research is searching the archives of Media Magazine and other online sources. Although these may not be quite as credible or weighty as academic books and journals they can still add a huge amount to your critical investigation research.
By now, you should have over 4,500 words in your Notes and Quotes document and will still have a huge amount to read and watch - particularly the crucial ongoing academic research and bibliography that made up critical investigation task #2. Don't forget the historical text analysis that made up task #3, too.
Today, we’re going to focus on another brilliant resource for our research: the online archives of various magazines and websites that you have exclusive access to.
Media Magazine archive
We have the last 30 issues of Media Magazine in pdf format and also in the archive is a Word document with the contents for each issue. This means it will be easy to go through all 30 issues and identify articles that could help with your topic.
Once you’ve identified the articles, you can then read and research them to add to your Notes and Quotes document.
Media Edu
Another online resource that contains a large number of case studies and articles on key media issues is mediaedu.
Click on the top right box 'Login' and use our Greenford Media that will be emailed to you. Once logged in, you may need to search for a few different aspects of your topic but you will find some excellent case studies, theories and more on this website.
e-Jump Cut online media journal
Jump Cut is an online contemporary Media journal with an archive dating back 40 years. It is published every year and each issue offers around 50 articles on aspects of film and media, often looking at controversial or niche topics. The current issue is available here and the archive can be found here.
It's definitely worth searching the e-Jump Cut archive for articles on your chosen topic – there are hundreds to choose from. This could be particularly useful for your historical text analysis from task #3. Note: you don't need a log-in for Jump Cut, the material is available for free online.
Notes & Quotes: 6,000 words
You need to search all three archives and make notes/quotes from at least ONE article or page from each. However, you need at least FIVE new sources in total - and if you can't find five between the three sites you are not looking hard enough. You should be looking to add another 500+ words to your N&Q document helping you towards the next milestone which is 6,000 words.
Deadline: task completed and 6,000 words in your Notes & Quotes document by Wednesday 6 December.
If you have a problem with any of the links or log-ins then please let me know.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
NDM News: MEST3 essay on blog
We have covered a phenomenal amount of content on our News case study since sitting the baseline assessment in September. Now it's time to put that to use on a MEST3 Section B essay.
A reminder of the question we've been looking at in lesson:
The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
Homework
A reminder of the question we've been looking at in lesson:
The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
We need to make sure we can write well developed paragraphs answering the question we are given. Remember what we said made for a good paragraph:
- Focus on the question
- Application of theories, issues/debates, wider contexts
- Detailed evidence/statistics; range of examples
- Well structured; clearly expressed
For the Marxist perspective, we looked at the following exemplar paragraph:
A Marxist perspective would argue that the so-called “information revolution” has done little to benefit audiences or to subvert the established power structures in society. Far from being a “great leveller” (Krotoski, 2012) as many have claimed, it has merely helped to reinforce the status quo by promoting dominant ideologies. The most popular news website in the UK by a considerable margin is the ‘Mail Online’, which receives more than 8 million hits every month and is continuing to expand rapidly – with forecasts that it will make £100 million or more in digital revenues in the next three years. Similar to its tabloid print edition, the website takes a Conservative, right-wing perspective on key issues around gender, sexuality and race and audiences appear to passively accept what the Marxist theorist, Gramsci, called a hegemonic view. When one of their chief columnists, Jan Moir, wrote a homophobic article about the death of Stephen Gately in 2009 there were Twitter and Facebook protests but, ultimately, they did not change the editorial direction of the gatekeepers controlling the newspaper.
This includes plenty of excellent points, quotes, examples and uses of media language that help raise this to Level 4:
You now need to write a similar paragraph using the Pluralist perspective.
This includes plenty of excellent points, quotes, examples and uses of media language that help raise this to Level 4:
- Marxist perspective
- “information revolution”
- “great leveller” (Krotoski, 2012)
- promoting dominant ideologies
- ‘Mail Online’, 8 million hits/month
- £100 million in the next three years
- Conservative, right-wing
- Gramsci, hegemonic view
- Jan Moir, homophobic - death of Stephen Gately, 2009
- gatekeepers
You now need to write a similar paragraph using the Pluralist perspective.
The key aspects of Pluralism we discussed in lesson included:
- Pluralist perspective
- audiences: “conform, accommodate or reject” (Gurevitch)
- uses and gratifications theory
- Castells “culture of freedom”
- “The Great Leveller”; “Paradigm shift” (Krotoski)
- Ferguson protests (tweets/hashtag); Tomlinson case (G20)
- Arab Spring, protests
- UGC, citizen journalism, blogs
- democratization
- “mutualisation of news” (Rushbridger, The Guardian)
Homework
If you don't finish the paragraph on Pluralism in class, ensure this is on your blog by next lesson.
Your main homework is to write a full essay answering the question we have been working on in lesson. Write this essay on your blog:
The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
This must be a complete response including everything we have learned in the unit so far: the decline of newspapers, how news consumption has changed (Ofcom report), paywalls and the future of journalism, citizen journalism, hyperreality and UGC, news values and finally Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony.
Use the quotes you have been given wherever possible and a wide range of examples from across the news industry and beyond (this is where your regular NDM stories should be useful).
Due: next week Thursday (13C) / Friday (13D)
Your main homework is to write a full essay answering the question we have been working on in lesson. Write this essay on your blog:
The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
This must be a complete response including everything we have learned in the unit so far: the decline of newspapers, how news consumption has changed (Ofcom report), paywalls and the future of journalism, citizen journalism, hyperreality and UGC, news values and finally Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony.
Use the quotes you have been given wherever possible and a wide range of examples from across the news industry and beyond (this is where your regular NDM stories should be useful).
Due: next week Thursday (13C) / Friday (13D)
Thursday, November 23, 2017
BFI Library trip details
The BFI Library trip is a phenomenal opportunity to add university-level research to your critical investigation coursework.
The trip briefing sheet with map and meeting details is here.
Trip date: Monday 27 November
Meeting place: BFI Southbank foyer
Meeting time: 10am
Remember to bring pens and paper plus a USB if you have one.
Make the most of this opportunity - we have exclusive use of the library and the staff there have prepared a pack for you that is customised to your text and topic!
The trip briefing sheet with map and meeting details is here.
Trip date: Monday 27 November
Meeting place: BFI Southbank foyer
Meeting time: 10am
Remember to bring pens and paper plus a USB if you have one.
Make the most of this opportunity - we have exclusive use of the library and the staff there have prepared a pack for you that is customised to your text and topic!
Monday, November 20, 2017
Critical Investigation: Task #3
Historical text analysis and research
Research a historical text that you can use to compare with your contemporary, primary text.
By 'historical' we mean anything pre-2000 but the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or even 80s might be more fruitful because they pre-date many of the important changes that have occurred more recently (such as the gains for women as a result of feminism; or greater equality for ethnic minorities now that we are - arguably - a more inclusive and multi-cultural society; or the ground-breaking developments in new media/digital technology).
The purpose here is to be able to demonstrate...
If you can't get hold of an original copy of the text it's not the end of the world - you will be stuck doing secondary research. Just make sure you do plenty of it and find out information from a few different sources.
As ever, add your historical text(s) research, textual analysis and links/bibliography to your Notes and Quotes document. Also, remember that Task #2 and the latest Notes & Quotes word count is due this week!
Task #3 deadline: Wednesday 29 November
Research a historical text that you can use to compare with your contemporary, primary text.
By 'historical' we mean anything pre-2000 but the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or even 80s might be more fruitful because they pre-date many of the important changes that have occurred more recently (such as the gains for women as a result of feminism; or greater equality for ethnic minorities now that we are - arguably - a more inclusive and multi-cultural society; or the ground-breaking developments in new media/digital technology).
The purpose here is to be able to demonstrate...
- how society and the issue you are investigating has changed over the years and how these changes are reflected in different media texts, or - to put it another way...
- how popular culture reflects the 'spirit of the age' or zeitgeist
- How is it similar/different to your main text?
- How does this show how the genre/society/issue has changed?
If you can't get hold of an original copy of the text it's not the end of the world - you will be stuck doing secondary research. Just make sure you do plenty of it and find out information from a few different sources.
As ever, add your historical text(s) research, textual analysis and links/bibliography to your Notes and Quotes document. Also, remember that Task #2 and the latest Notes & Quotes word count is due this week!
Task #3 deadline: Wednesday 29 November
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
NDM News: Marxism & Pluralism - Alain de Botton on the news
We are currently doing some excellent work on the News and Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony.
As part of this work, we've watched a couple of fascinating videos featuring philosopher and Media theorist Alain de Botton and his views on the news as a form of social control. In order to further explore this so we can refer to it in an essay, we have some additional homework on Alain de Botton's and the news.
Here are the two videos we watched in class this week - you may want to watch them again (particularly the first one).
Now watch this lecture by Alain de Botton presenting his views on the News:
Answer the following questions on your blog:
1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?
2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?
3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?
4) Choose two news stories from the last six months - one that supports de Botton's views and one that challenges his belief that the News is used for social control.
Due: for your single exam lesson next week
As part of this work, we've watched a couple of fascinating videos featuring philosopher and Media theorist Alain de Botton and his views on the news as a form of social control. In order to further explore this so we can refer to it in an essay, we have some additional homework on Alain de Botton's and the news.
Here are the two videos we watched in class this week - you may want to watch them again (particularly the first one).
Now watch this lecture by Alain de Botton presenting his views on the News:
Answer the following questions on your blog:
1) To what extent do you agree with Alain de Botton's views on the News?
2) How can you link Marxism and Hegemony to de Botton's criticisms of the News?
3) How could you use Pluralism and new technology to challenge de Botton's views on the News?
4) Choose two news stories from the last six months - one that supports de Botton's views and one that challenges his belief that the News is used for social control.
Due: for your single exam lesson next week
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Critical Investigation: Task #2
Academic research and bibliography
As you know, a detailed bibliography is crucial to reach the top grades in your coursework. Most of you have already started researching using books or journal article PDFs so this is simply an opportunity to pull it all together.
New Notes and Quotes minimum word count: 4,500 words by Wednesday 22 November.
We've now got a superb selection of academic texts in DF07 - many only added this year. These include the following:
In the essential reading list, those underlined are the twenty most important or useful in previous years but, obviously, not all of the texts on this list will be directly relevant for you. Whichever book you choose, you'll need to spend a fair amount of time searching through it (especially the contents page and, particularly, the index) to find the key words, quotes and ideas that will impress the examiners.
Finally, you should definitely look at our archive of PDF journal articles available on the Media Shared drive. These are considered at the same level as academic books and there is likely to be something that relates to your topic. If not, you can use Google Scholar to look for PDF journal articles that do cover your text or media debate. You'll find our PDF archive at: M: > Resources > A Level > Critical Investigation
For absolutely everything you quote or refer to you in your essay (i.e direct quotes, specific references to theories/statistics/reports etc.), you must include references. Crucially, you'll need to reference quite a few of these recommended books and journal articles if you want an A or B grade. These will be footnoted in your essay (this is called a citation). The more academic sources you have, the stronger your essay will be - so borrow them from the library, look at them in lesson or make a note of them for the trip to the BFI Library. If the book belongs to the Media department, you will have to do your research in class or in DF06 during a free period - the books can't leave school unfortunately.
Task #2 is to pull this information together in an updated Notes and Quotes blog posting of all your notes and quotes so far INCLUDING a complete bibliography of your research so far.
Make sure you include the following:
Task #2 deadline: Wednesday 22 November
As you know, a detailed bibliography is crucial to reach the top grades in your coursework. Most of you have already started researching using books or journal article PDFs so this is simply an opportunity to pull it all together.
New Notes and Quotes minimum word count: 4,500 words by Wednesday 22 November.
We've now got a superb selection of academic texts in DF07 - many only added this year. These include the following:
- Media, Gender and Identity by David Gauntlett
- Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks
- Feminist Media Studies by Liesbet van Zoonen
- Gender Trouble by Judith Butler
- After Empire by Paul Gilroy
- There Ain't No Black In The Union Jack Paul Gilroy
- Media Regulation by Lunt and Livingstone
- Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky
- Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirky
- Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices Edited by Stuart Hall
- Power without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain by James Curran
- The Contradictions of Media Power by Des Freedman
- The Cultural Industries by David Hesmondhalgh
- Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide by Henry Jenkins
- Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World by Jonathan Gray
- The Internet is Not the Answer by Andrew Keen
- Misunderstanding the Internet by James Curran, Natalie Fenton, Des Freedman
In the essential reading list, those underlined are the twenty most important or useful in previous years but, obviously, not all of the texts on this list will be directly relevant for you. Whichever book you choose, you'll need to spend a fair amount of time searching through it (especially the contents page and, particularly, the index) to find the key words, quotes and ideas that will impress the examiners.
Finally, you should definitely look at our archive of PDF journal articles available on the Media Shared drive. These are considered at the same level as academic books and there is likely to be something that relates to your topic. If not, you can use Google Scholar to look for PDF journal articles that do cover your text or media debate. You'll find our PDF archive at: M: > Resources > A Level > Critical Investigation
For absolutely everything you quote or refer to you in your essay (i.e direct quotes, specific references to theories/statistics/reports etc.), you must include references. Crucially, you'll need to reference quite a few of these recommended books and journal articles if you want an A or B grade. These will be footnoted in your essay (this is called a citation). The more academic sources you have, the stronger your essay will be - so borrow them from the library, look at them in lesson or make a note of them for the trip to the BFI Library. If the book belongs to the Media department, you will have to do your research in class or in DF06 during a free period - the books can't leave school unfortunately.
Task #2 is to pull this information together in an updated Notes and Quotes blog posting of all your notes and quotes so far INCLUDING a complete bibliography of your research so far.
Make sure you include the following:
- Author-Year-Title-Place-Publisher info;
- Quotes (+ Page References) from the book that can be linked to your study;
- A short explanation of each one explaining how it is relevant to you/your topic, any notes, ideas or reflections that occur to you when reading. Does it reinforce your argument? Does it challenge your hypothesis? Is it what you were expecting?
- Finally, post up on your blog a Complete Bibliography (so far) to include ALL the books you currently have quotes from. It MUST contain at least TEN different academic books or journals as well as all your online and Media Magazine sources.
- Note: your FINAL bibliography will be much more extensive than this - we are simply looking for a minimum of 10 academic sources from your research so far.
Task #2 deadline: Wednesday 22 November
Blade Runner 2049 Film Trip - Details & Homework
The briefing sheet with the map, meeting time/place, contact number, etc. can be found here.
The homework, after watching the film, is to read the following five star reviews...
Blade Runner 2049 review – a gigantic spectacle of pure hallucinatory craziness
Blade Runner 2049 review – a future classic
And to read this article that links the film to wider contexts and the theoretical writings of Baudrillard...
‘I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe’: what Blade Runner 2049’s dystopia tells us about 2017
Also read a selection of the hundreds of reader comments 'below-the-line' after each article.
Then, for each article, write your own comment in response to each article (minimum of fifty words each) and publish them in a blog post on your Media 4 (coursework) blog, entitled 'Blade Runner 2049 Reviews'. And feel free to post your comments on the actual articles themselves (you'll need to set up an account to do this).
Please complete by Monday 20/11.
The homework, after watching the film, is to read the following five star reviews...
Blade Runner 2049 review – a gigantic spectacle of pure hallucinatory craziness
Blade Runner 2049 review – a future classic
And to read this article that links the film to wider contexts and the theoretical writings of Baudrillard...
‘I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe’: what Blade Runner 2049’s dystopia tells us about 2017
Also read a selection of the hundreds of reader comments 'below-the-line' after each article.
Then, for each article, write your own comment in response to each article (minimum of fifty words each) and publish them in a blog post on your Media 4 (coursework) blog, entitled 'Blade Runner 2049 Reviews'. And feel free to post your comments on the actual articles themselves (you'll need to set up an account to do this).
Please complete by Monday 20/11.
NDM News: Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony
Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony are some of the most challenging theories we'll learn - but also extremely relevant to the case study we're working on.
These theories go to the heart of whether the media elite or the audience have the power in a 21st century digital world. There are compelling arguments to both sides and recent world events only add fuel to this debate. Complete the tasks below to reinforce the work you've done in the lesson.
Bonus reading: Hegemony and the Hunger Games
I've got some slightly off-topic reading to get you started. There is a reference to hegemony in a Guardian article about the last Hunger Games film that could also be linked to feminism (therefore relevant to many of your critical investigations). Read the article on the Hunger Games and at least 15 comments below the line. How does this link to what we've learned about hegemony?
Main task
Read the Media Magazine article ‘Web 2.0: Participation or Hegemony?'. Go to our archive of Media Magazine issues and click on MM39 - the article you need is on page 58. Answer the following questions:
1) Research the Ian Tomlinson case. What would the traditional, hegemonic view of the police be in a case like this? How did new and digital media create a different story? What does the police officer's subsequent acquittal suggest about the power of new and digital media?
2) What does the author argue regarding whether hegemony is being challenged by Web 2.0?
3) In your opinion, does new and digital media reinforce dominant hegemonic views or give the audience a platform to challenge them?
4) Do recent world events such as Brexit or Donald Trump's election in the US suggest dominant hegemonic ideologies are being challenged or reinforced? There are arguments for both sides here - explain your opinion and why.
Complete for homework - due date specified by exam class teacher.
These theories go to the heart of whether the media elite or the audience have the power in a 21st century digital world. There are compelling arguments to both sides and recent world events only add fuel to this debate. Complete the tasks below to reinforce the work you've done in the lesson.
Bonus reading: Hegemony and the Hunger Games
I've got some slightly off-topic reading to get you started. There is a reference to hegemony in a Guardian article about the last Hunger Games film that could also be linked to feminism (therefore relevant to many of your critical investigations). Read the article on the Hunger Games and at least 15 comments below the line. How does this link to what we've learned about hegemony?
Main task
Read the Media Magazine article ‘Web 2.0: Participation or Hegemony?'. Go to our archive of Media Magazine issues and click on MM39 - the article you need is on page 58. Answer the following questions:
1) Research the Ian Tomlinson case. What would the traditional, hegemonic view of the police be in a case like this? How did new and digital media create a different story? What does the police officer's subsequent acquittal suggest about the power of new and digital media?
2) What does the author argue regarding whether hegemony is being challenged by Web 2.0?
3) In your opinion, does new and digital media reinforce dominant hegemonic views or give the audience a platform to challenge them?
4) Do recent world events such as Brexit or Donald Trump's election in the US suggest dominant hegemonic ideologies are being challenged or reinforced? There are arguments for both sides here - explain your opinion and why.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Moonlight Film Trip - Details & Homework
The briefing sheet with the map, meeting time/place, contact number, etc. can be found here.
The homework, after watching the film, is to complete the questions on this Moonlight Film Guide.
Please post up your answers to the questions on your Media 4 (coursework) blog by Wednesday 15/11. You need to cover all the 'Discussion points' individually; the 'Write about it' film review task (in your own words - do not copy from a film review site but, by all means, use other reviews to help you); and the 'Extension Activity'.
The homework, after watching the film, is to complete the questions on this Moonlight Film Guide.
Please post up your answers to the questions on your Media 4 (coursework) blog by Wednesday 15/11. You need to cover all the 'Discussion points' individually; the 'Write about it' film review task (in your own words - do not copy from a film review site but, by all means, use other reviews to help you); and the 'Extension Activity'.
Sunday, November 05, 2017
NDM: News: News Values
Galtung and Ruge (1981) defined a set of news values to explain how journalists and editors decided that certain stories and photographs were accepted as newsworthy, while others were not.
The following list is adapted from their work:
Immediacy: has it happened recently?
Familiarity: is it culturally close to us in Britain?
Amplitude: is it a big event or one which involves large numbers of people?
Frequency: does the event happen fairly regularly?
Unambiguity: is it clear and definite?
Predictability: did we expect it to happen?
Surprise: is it a rare or unexpected event?
Continuity: has this story already been defined as news?
Elite nations and people: which country has the event happened in? Does the story concern well-known people?
Negativity: is it bad news?
Balance: the story may be selected to balance other news, such as a human survival story to balance a number of stories concerning death.
Classwork/Homework
1) Read Media Factsheet 76: News Values and complete the following questions/tasks.
Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
3) What example news story does the Factsheet use to illustrate Galtung and Ruge's News Values? Why is it an appropriate example of a news story likely to gain prominent coverage?
4) What is gatekeeping?
5) What are the six ways bias can be created in news?
6) How have online sources such as Twitter, bloggers or Wikileaks changed the way news is selected and published?
7) Give an example of a news story from the last WEEK that was reported as a result of online technology - Twitter, Wikileaks or similar.
8) Complete the task on the last page of the Factsheet regarding Sky News and Twitter:
Final tasks
9) In your opinion, how has new and digital media technology changed Galtung and Ruge’s news values?
10) How would you update them for 2016? Choose SIX of Galtung and Ruge's news values and say how each one has been affected by the growth of new and digital technology.
Complete for homework: due next week (exact day confirmed by your exam teacher).
The following list is adapted from their work:
Immediacy: has it happened recently?
Familiarity: is it culturally close to us in Britain?
Amplitude: is it a big event or one which involves large numbers of people?
Frequency: does the event happen fairly regularly?
Unambiguity: is it clear and definite?
Predictability: did we expect it to happen?
Surprise: is it a rare or unexpected event?
Continuity: has this story already been defined as news?
Elite nations and people: which country has the event happened in? Does the story concern well-known people?
Negativity: is it bad news?
Balance: the story may be selected to balance other news, such as a human survival story to balance a number of stories concerning death.
Classwork/Homework
1) Read Media Factsheet 76: News Values and complete the following questions/tasks.
Our Media Factsheet archive is on the Media Shared drive: M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets
2) Come up with a news story from the last 12 months for each of the categories suggested by Harriss, Leiter and Johnson:
- Conflict
- Progress
- Disaster
- Consequence
- Prominence
- Novelty
3) What example news story does the Factsheet use to illustrate Galtung and Ruge's News Values? Why is it an appropriate example of a news story likely to gain prominent coverage?
4) What is gatekeeping?
5) What are the six ways bias can be created in news?
6) How have online sources such as Twitter, bloggers or Wikileaks changed the way news is selected and published?
7) Give an example of a news story from the last WEEK that was reported as a result of online technology - Twitter, Wikileaks or similar.
8) Complete the task on the last page of the Factsheet regarding Sky News and Twitter:
- What does this reveal about how Sky views Twitter as a news source?
- What does it say about how news is being produced?
- What role does the audience have in this process?
- Why might this be a problem for journalistic standards?
Final tasks
9) In your opinion, how has new and digital media technology changed Galtung and Ruge’s news values?
10) How would you update them for 2016? Choose SIX of Galtung and Ruge's news values and say how each one has been affected by the growth of new and digital technology.
E.g. Immediacy is more important than ever due to news breaking on Twitter or elsewhere online. However, this in turn changes the approach of other news sources such as newspapers as the news will probably already be broken so different angles might be required. Newspapers now contain more comment or opinion rather than the breaking story.
Complete for homework: due next week (exact day confirmed by your exam teacher).
Critical Investigation: Task #1
Before too long, you'll be needing to write your Critical Investigation essay - which means we need to step up our preparations to make sure we have everything in place.
We have designed a series of tasks to help you complete comprehensive research and analysis of your chosen text and topic. All of the work you complete over the next few weeks will go into your Notes and Quotes document and will mean that you write your first draft of the Critical Investigation with exceptional research behind you.
Final Deadline
All the preparatory tasks need to be finished shortly before Christmas: Friday 9 December. You will then have the Christmas holidays to write the first draft of your 2,000 word essay.
TASK #1 TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
TASK #1 DEADLINE: SET BY YOUR MEST4 TEACHER
Carry out close textual analyses of at least TWO chosen scenes/extracts/clips from your PRIMARY text and add them to your Notes & Quotes document.
Note: you must ALSO post your textual analyses up as a separate blogpost.
A good starting point is to look again at the MIGRAIN questions you answered for your Summer Research Project. In particular, focus on Media Language (cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, sound), along with Representation, Genre, Narrative and Audience.
The extracts should be able to exemplify some of the key points you wish to make in your Critical Investigation and link with some of the following key areas raised by your text...
Issues and debates
Representation and stereotyping; Media effects; Reality TV; News Values; Moral Panics; Post 9/11 and the media; Ownership and control; Regulation and censorship; Media technology and the digital revolution – changing technologies in the 21st century; The effect of globalisation on the media.
Theories
Semiotics; Structuralism and post-structuralism; Postmodernism and its critiques; Gender and ethnicity; Marxism and hegemony; Liberal Pluralism; Colonialism and Post-colonialism; Audience theories; Genre theories.
Ideally, make sure it is an extract you haven't analysed before and embed the YouTube link in your posting if it's available.
Think of each analysis as like a MEST3 exam analysis but with one text instead of two - so you need to cover MIGRAIN and SHEP with detailed reference to specific aspects of the text. You are advised to watch the extract several times and to make detailed notes before embarking on the write-up, which should be in essay format (NOT in note form). If you do this well, you'll find that some of what you write will go straight into your essay when you start the first draft.
Use our Key Concepts Glossary to help you think about terminology to use. You should be including as many of these keywords and ideas as possible in your analysis (where relevant...this won't always be the case).
Good luck!
We have designed a series of tasks to help you complete comprehensive research and analysis of your chosen text and topic. All of the work you complete over the next few weeks will go into your Notes and Quotes document and will mean that you write your first draft of the Critical Investigation with exceptional research behind you.
Final Deadline
All the preparatory tasks need to be finished shortly before Christmas: Friday 9 December. You will then have the Christmas holidays to write the first draft of your 2,000 word essay.
TASK #1 TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
TASK #1 DEADLINE: SET BY YOUR MEST4 TEACHER
Carry out close textual analyses of at least TWO chosen scenes/extracts/clips from your PRIMARY text and add them to your Notes & Quotes document.
Note: you must ALSO post your textual analyses up as a separate blogpost.
A good starting point is to look again at the MIGRAIN questions you answered for your Summer Research Project. In particular, focus on Media Language (cinematography, mise-en-scene, editing, sound), along with Representation, Genre, Narrative and Audience.
The extracts should be able to exemplify some of the key points you wish to make in your Critical Investigation and link with some of the following key areas raised by your text...
Issues and debates
Representation and stereotyping; Media effects; Reality TV; News Values; Moral Panics; Post 9/11 and the media; Ownership and control; Regulation and censorship; Media technology and the digital revolution – changing technologies in the 21st century; The effect of globalisation on the media.
Theories
Semiotics; Structuralism and post-structuralism; Postmodernism and its critiques; Gender and ethnicity; Marxism and hegemony; Liberal Pluralism; Colonialism and Post-colonialism; Audience theories; Genre theories.
Ideally, make sure it is an extract you haven't analysed before and embed the YouTube link in your posting if it's available.
Think of each analysis as like a MEST3 exam analysis but with one text instead of two - so you need to cover MIGRAIN and SHEP with detailed reference to specific aspects of the text. You are advised to watch the extract several times and to make detailed notes before embarking on the write-up, which should be in essay format (NOT in note form). If you do this well, you'll find that some of what you write will go straight into your essay when you start the first draft.
Use our Key Concepts Glossary to help you think about terminology to use. You should be including as many of these keywords and ideas as possible in your analysis (where relevant...this won't always be the case).
Good luck!
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