The BEST Coursework!

Another superb year of coursework has finally come to a close. We say this every year but again it's true...the overall standard has been better than ever so well done! The vast majority of you didn't just meet your minimum target grades but went one higher (and in some cases two!). This is brilliant news and means you are really set up to achieve outstanding results again come August...so long as you make sure you revise hard for the exams!

What you see below are links to six of the best of the 'A' grade essays that were submitted (there were more but not all of them have been posted up by their authors). It is strongly recommended that you read through these as part of your revision programme. Not only will they provide you with plenty of synoptic material for Med 6 but they all make crucial links to Med 4 which will help refresh your memories about what you need to know here and, most probably, provide you with new case studies and examples to present in your essays.

In particular, make sure you read those by Rohini (genre), and Tanya (representation of women).

GENRE

“Don't mess with the flow, no no/
Stick to the status quo”

To what extent and why does Disney’s High School Musical (2006) conform to the conventions of its generic predecessors – the ‘teenpic’ and the traditional musical genres?

...Truly outstanding work from Rohini...full marks, and containing some superb references which you could all 'appropriate' for your exam essays!








“I don’t think after Jurassic Park that we can, or should ever accept a model animated dinosaur again”.

How has CGI ensured the box office success of the animation genre, paying particular attention to ‘Shrek the Third’ (2007)?

....An extremely well researched essay from Chintan.

“Cuarón has created the thinking person's action movie.”

Is Children Of Men a typical science-fiction film?

...Amandeep made superb use of his 'study leave' to produce this really concise, yet fluent study.











REPRESENTATION

“Always bet on a blonde”.

How and why has the representation of women changed in the British soap opera “Eastenders”?

...excellent essay by Tanya that covers much of the essential research and theory on the representation of women.












“We’ve always been ready for female superheroes. Because women want to be them and men want to do them.”

How are female characters represented in Heroes and how does this signal a break from superheroes of the past.

...A clear and engaging study by Pooja.








Catwoman, with a central female protagonist, might be seen as victory for women. However Catwoman is a sex symbol, thus the film is guilty of double standards in terms of gender representation.

...A well argued and detailed essay by Baldip.

Issues and debates quiz wk 10

Just over 4 weeks now until the Med 6 exam. I'm glad to see that many of you have been posting your quiz responses on your blogs - I will check these, as well as my inbox (those who email their responses to me need to send them to Ms Jones), before I award the final prize next week.

1. Which radio station won the 'station of the year' prize at the Sony awards?
2. Which Sunday newspaper is looking for a new political editor, and why?
3. Which British drama series has been bought by ABC for its prestigious 10pm slot?
4. According to the Public Accounts Committee, how should the BBC be saving money on equipment?
5. What is Google's 'Street View' service, and why is it controversial?

MD13c1 Cover Work: Fri 09-05-08

Make sure you sign in and stay in the classroom throughout the period - teachers will be checking from time to time to monitor your progress!

Write a 45 minute essay (at least two sides) on the following question...

Recent developments in genre have included the emergence of parody, pastiche and hybrid forms. Show how such developments have influenced the nature of media texts.
(January ’06 b)

Also don't forget the important homework that's due in on Monday (12th) for both 13c and 13d...

Make revision notes on genre.

• Go through all your notes (handouts, repertoire of elements sheets, your own research you may have done on the topic for Med 5, etc.)

• Then type out concise summaries of everything.

• Use bullet points, highlighting, italics, underlining, headings, subheadings, bold etc. to make it as easy to remember as possible.

• You obviously need to cover all genre theory (especially the BFI pack), genre quotes, history of slasher (including the significance of each of the films you've studied and how they relate to the WCs).

Issues and debates quiz wk 9

Email your answers to Ms Jones.

1. What is 'Freesat' and who is planning to set it up?
2. Why has Talk Sport radio presenter James Whale lost his job?
3. Which ITV disaster drama 'leaked' a million viewers on Monday night (May 5th)?
4. Which London newspaper is credited with winning the office of mayor for Boris Johnson?
5. Which national newspaper has admitted that female journalists are paid less than men in equivalent jobs?

Issues and Debates quiz wk 8

Not long now until the Med 6 exam - use this quiz (and the Guardian Media website, where all the answers can be found) to stay on top of current issues and debates. And email your answers to Ms Jones for a chance to win the end-of-year prize.

1. Which terrestrial broadcaster faces a record fine from Ofcom, and why?
2. Which women's magazine is about to undergo a re-vamp, and who are its core readership?
3. How has Miley Cyrus offended her young fans?
4. Which company currently has 70% of the digital music market?
5. Which national newspaper is trying to re-brand its readership, and why?

Revision Guide Online

There is a sample chapter online from an A Level Media revision guide which is well worth buying. It has an excellent section on Wider Contexts, which is especially important, and it's the homework for all Year 13s this week to print off and read through the whole chapter (the first part is all about Key Concepts and textual analysis - really useful revision) and to highlight key points worth remembering.

This needs to be done by the time you return after the bank holiday for checking and discussion in lessons.

Issues and debates quiz wk 7

1. Who has suggested that BBC Radio 1 and 2, and Channel 4, should be privatised, and why?
2. In this time of financial crisis, which media organisation is giving Wall Street a shot in the arm?
3. Why is Coca-Cola being targeted by pro-Tibet protestors?
4. Which media mogul is making waves at the Wall Street Journal?
5. Which 2005 hit took £127m at the global box office, and how much did it cost to make?

Email your answers to Ms Jones.

MD13c2 Cover Work: Wed 02-04-08

Make sure you stay in the classroom for both periods - we will be checking from time to time to monitor your progress!

Task
A Med 6 practice exam (as you have your mock as soon as we return after the holiday).

Text One
'The Sun Online' homepage from 02-04-08.

Text Two
BBC News report about the Tiananmen Square massacre, first broadcast on BBC1 on 04-06-89.

Question
"Using the comparison of these two texts as your starting point, explore the media issues and debates which they raise."

Spend period 2 note-taking/planning (and watch the extract three times during this period) and then spend period 3 writing your answer...type up on your blog and finish for homework (it must be at least 1000 words)

Use two sides of A4 paper for notes/planning (one for Text 1, one for Text 2) and include the following sections going down the page...

1. form & function
2. similarities & differences
3. key concepts (MIGRAIN)
4. theory
5. issues & debates
6. wider contexts (SHEP)
7. other texts

Homework

1. Complete this task.
2. Attend the revision class on Monday 14th April.
3. Do the Wider Contexts Timeline research task on your blog.
4. Prepare and revise for the Med 4 & Med 6 mock exams.
5. Post up one Media Guardian story on your Med 6 blog each week, including your own commentary.
   

Exam Questions

You should all be revising for your mock exams which take place right after the holiday. One of the key things you'll need to do is work through the Med 4 past questions which you'll find here...

• Genre

• Representation

Another really useful resource is...

• AQA Past Question Papers & Mark Schemes

...and this includes Med 6 too.

Remember, if you can't do timed essays at least have a go at brainstorming your answers (producing mind maps etc.) and writing essay plans.

Issues and debates quiz wk 6

Are you keeping up with contemporary issues and debates in the media, in preparation for your med 6 exam? If you are, you should be able to answer these questions (email your answers to Ms Jones).

1. What is the 'Byron report', and what does it recommend?
2. Which magazine is to blame for children's reluctance to complete their homework?
3. Which controversial tv channel has recently lost 15 of its staff?
4. Which social networking website is working with NME, and in what capacity?
5. What is 'Miss Bimbo', and why is it under investigation by regulators?

WC (SHEP) Timeline

For all Year 13 students...

You need to do some important research over the holiday where you will find out about the key social, economic and political aspects of different historical eras and then go on to produce a timeline on your blogs. This is because the Module 6 text(s) could be from any decade since the 1950s so you have to have some general knowledge and understanding about them in order to answer the question.

This is work you will need to have completed by the day we come back after Easter...Monday 21st April.

To help you - here are a list of good links to try out...

• The BBC's 'TV on Trial' Timeline

• Media History Timeline

• Infoplease: Year By Year

• Infoplease: Movie Timeline

• Infoplease: Broadcasting Timeline

Please post up the research to your Med 6 blogs, making six diffferent posts, one for each decade - 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s.

In each post you need to cover the following...

• Social issues (status and roles of different social groups, e.g. women, ethnic minorities, gay people, the family, etc.)

• Political issues (key events: wars, elections, political movements and changes, like feminism, civil rights, etc.)

• Economic issues (state of the local - UK - and global economy)

• Media issues (key texts, major developments, important people, changes in technology and censorship, etc.)

Be selective when choosing information and avoid covering too much American content as usually one - and often both - of the texts are British in the exam. And don't just copy and paste up events etc. that you don't understand or couldn't explain - the whole point is to make you confident about referring to this info in the exam so do extra research when this is the case.

Mocks & Revision

For all Year 13s...

Don't forget...mock exams are fast approaching and you should all be revising hard for them NOW. This is your only chance to practise these questions and develop these skills under full test conditions so make the most of the opportunity - if you haven't prepared you'll be wasting both your own and your teacher's time as the only feedback you'll get is 'do some work' - not very helpful when the purpose is to help you improve for the real thing on June 12th.

The dates/times are (during the first week back after the Easter holiday)...

• MODULE 6 Mock for 13c1 & 13c2 - Wednesday 23-04, periods 2 & 3 (working through break)

• MODULE 4 Mock for 13c1 &13c2 - Thursday 24-04, periods 5 & 6
  

• MODULE 4 Mock for 13d1 - Tuesday 22-04, periods 5 & 6
  

• MODULE 6 Mock for 13d1 - Thursday 24-04, periods 1 & 2
  

Your revision/preparation should be...

MODULE 6

• Read through the Med 6 'Issues and Debates' blogs.

• Read through the handouts on 'Issues & Debates' (Marxism, Uses & Gratifications, etc.).

• Read the Media Keywords A-Z handout (the big one).

• Practise note-taking/comparing two different texts - one moving image, one print - (MIGRAIN, WC: SHEP, Issues & Debates/Theory) for half hour stints.
  

MODULE 4

• Read through all notes and handouts on the two key topics...

• Representation - Representation pack (cartoons), Gauntlett, Mulvey, etc.

• Genre - Genre pack, Slasher pack, repertoire of elements worksheets, etc.
  

• Read through all 'Representation' & 'Genre' past questions.

• Write essay plans for as many different questions as possible.

• Complete at least one timed essay for each topic (Rep, Genre - 45 minutes/question).

And, obviously, the best way to support your revision is to turn up to the (compulsory) Easter Revision Class which is on Monday April 14th from 9am-4pm.

Slasher Schedule

Please note the revised schedule for the remaining slasher genre film club screenings in DF02...

• Tue 25-03

Scream (Wes Craven, 1996, 111 mins.)

• Thur 27-03

Scary Movie (Keenen Ivory Wayans, 2000, 88 mins.)

• Tue 01-04

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Marcus Nispel, 2003, 98 mins.)

Then we have three more scheduled genre film clubs on these dates...

• Thur 04-04

• Tue 22-04

• Thur 24-04

Rather than dictate what we watch on these occasions, though, we thought it would be best if YOU decided. Each of these screenings will be a STUDENT CHOICE from the following...

Peeping Tom (Michael Powell, 1960, 101)
Britain's answer to 'Psycho', and the killer's phallic murder weapon is a camera tripod!

Black Christmas (1974, Bob Clark, 98 mins.)
Introduces most of the slasher staples before 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'.

When A Stranger Calls (1979, Fred Walton, 91 mins.)
The creepy opening phone sequence inspires the later 'Scream'.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Jim Gillespie, 1997, 100 mins.)
Second most successful franchise of the 90s slasher cycle.

Psycho (Gus Van Sant, 1998, 105 mins.)
Shot-for-shot remake of the original, un homage to the "granddaddy of the slasher genre."

My Little Eye (Marc Evans, 2002, 95 mins.)
Slasher meets reality-TV in this British-Canadian low budget movie.

Switchblade Romance (aka Haute Tension) (Alexandre Aja, 2003, 91 mins)
The French can do slasher too (naturellement).

Wolf Creek (Greg McLean, 2005, 99 mins.)
And the Aussies.

Hostel (Eli Roth, 2005, 94 mins.)
One of the most significant of the new 'torture porn'/'painography' genre that is superseding slasher.

When A Stranger Calls (Simon West, 2006, 87 mins.)
Remake of the 'golden age' era movie.

Black Christmas (Glen Morgan, 2006, 84 mins.)
And another remake!

Vote Slasher!

These are probably the best and most significant slashers we haven't yet seen. Do a bit of research about each one by clicking on the links above and seeing what IMDB has to say. The top three will be chosen for the final three film club screenings but - if you're really committed - you should try to see at least some of the others in preparation for the exams...

Slasher Choice Select the film you most want to see at film club. Peeping Tom (Michael Powell, 1960, 101 mins.) Black Christmas (1974, Bob Clark, 98 mins.) When A Stranger Calls (1979, Fred Walton, 91 mins.) I Know What You Did Last Summer (Jim Gillespie, 1997, 100 mins.) Psycho (Gus Van Sant, 1998, 105 mins.) My Little Eye (Marc Evans, 2002, 95 mins.) Switchblade Romance (aka Haute Tension) (Alexandre Aja, 2003, 91 mins) Wolf Creek (Greg McLean, 2005, 99 mins.) Hostel (Eli Roth, 2005, 94 mins.) When A Stranger Calls (Simon West, 2006, 87 mins.) Black Christmas (Glen Morgan, 2006, 84 mins.) view results

Issues and debates quiz wk 5

Five questions on the last week in the media. Remember - up-to-date knowledge of the media is crucial to Med 6 success! Email your answers to Ms Jones.

1. Why is BBC Worldwide's acquisition strategy under fire?

2. Which series of programmes has opened the BBC up to allegations of racism?

3. Why has the ASA banned the latest ad for Ghd's hair straighteners?

4. Why are some blaming the press for the suicide of Chief Constable Mike Todd?

5. Which glossy women's mag is about to undergo an online re-launch?

MD13d1 Cover Work: Tue 10-03-08

Make sure you stay in the classroom for all three periods - I will be back from time to time to monitor your progress!

1. Watch and paste the following clips of Key Slasher Sequences into your Med 6 blogs...

• Psycho (shower murder)
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre (ending)

2. For each one, make Med 6-style notes (on your blogs) on the following...

• a. Form/Function
• b. M-I-G-R-A-I-N
• c. Other related texts
• d. WC (SHEP)...how does each text relate to the zeitgeist?
  
• e. Issues & Debates
• f. Relevant Theories

3. Make a list of...

• a. similarities;
  
• b. differences

...and be sure to identify reasons WHY.

4. Write a plan and the introduction to a Med 6-style essay comparing the two texts but with the following title...

How does a comparison of these two 'slasher' texts demonstrate how genre changes over time? Why is this so and what other media issues and debates do they raise?

5. Start writing the essay on your blog and finish for homework (by Monday 17-03-08...it needs to be at least 1000 words long).

MD13c2 Cover Work: Wed 05-03-08

1. Stay in the classroom - I will be back from time to time to monitor your progress.
2. Find two different film trailers on 'YouTube' from different decades but from the same genre.
3. Paste the trailers in your Med 6 blogs.
4. For each one, make notes (on your blogs) on the following...
a. Form/Function
b. M-I-G-R-A-I-N
c. Other related texts
d. WC (SHEP)
e. Issues & Debates
f. Relevant Theories
5. Make a list of a. similarities; b. differences
6. Write the introduction to a Med 6 essay comparing the two texts.
7. Start writing the essay on your blog.
8. Finish for homework (needs to be at least 750 words long).

Issues and debates quiz wk 4

More questions on the media week. Email your answers to Ms Jones.

1. Which pair of auteurs won an impressive number of Oscars last week?
2. Which royal was the subject of a controversial media blackout recently, and why?
3. Why is Michael Grade under pressure this week?
4. Which natural history presenter bowed-out on Monday night, and how many viewers tuned-in to watch his swansong?
5. Which Tory peer and one-time Daily Telegraph owner has just been jailed for embezzlement?

Issues and debates quiz wk 3

Well done to those who've participated so far - Zainab is media quiz queen so far with 10/10. Can anyone match her knowledge of the world of media? Email your answers to Ms Jones (and feel free to include answers to the first two quizzes if you haven't already participated).

1. Channel 4 have just made a new appointment. Who have they appointed and why is that appointment controversial?
2. Which popular website has been banned in Pakistan, and why?
3. What aspect of the internet is culture secretary, Andy Burnham, determined to crack down on?
4. Didn't he do well to reach 80? (Question: who on earth am I talking about?)
5. ITV's programming has recently undergone a revamp. Which audience were they attempting to reach out to?

Self-Evaluations

To be completed by Monday 25-02.

Your responses will be used to help us write your next Interim Reports which you'll be receiving in a few weeks time.

SELF EVALUATION
Write an evaluation of your progress on the Media course since the last report.
Post the work up on your Module 5 blogs (and don't forget to post the first draft of your independent study on there if you haven't already done so).

a. Comment on each of the following, giving yourself a grade with an explanation outlining why:

(Grading should be1-5: 1 = excellent, 2 = v. good, 3 = good/average, 4 = poor, 5 = v. poor)

• Attainment
• Effort
• Punctuality
• Submission and quality of homework
• Ability to work independently
• Quality of writing
• Organisation of Media folder
• Oral contributions in class
• Contribution to the debate team
• Extra-curricular work (film projects etc.)
  
• Standard of Module 5 blog
  
• Standard of Module 6 blog
  

b. Make a list of three achievements (www) and three targets/areas for improvement (ebi) over the next half-term.

Media Debate '08

Don't forget that you should all be working on preparing for the Media Debate...it's happening next week on Thursday 28-02-08 in the Lecture Theatre from 3.30pm.

The teams are outlined below...overall team captains (Kabir and Naziya) have a special (c) next to them and it's their job to ensure that everyone is ready - in particular, they need to contact the individual debate captains (in red) to check they have fully researched their topics and rehearsed their performances with their groups.

Could captains please let me know this week (in the comments below) who the speakers are in each team and alert me to any mistakes made here so far. And where's the team spirit? Last year we had loads of comments 'bigging up' each side...let's start hearing you!

Med 6 Exemplar Paragraph

Md13C2 need to hand in their Med 6 comparisons for assessment on Wednesday 27-02-08. Make sure you find out what to do if you weren't in the lesson! To help, here's an exemplar paragraph...

Both ‘The Guardian’ – a broadsheet – and ‘The Daily Express’ – a tabloid – focus on stories centring on Muslim people but they do so in very different ways. Whereas Benazir Bhutto is represented as a tragic victim, reinforcing the shock the liberal middle-class audience is likely to feel at this attack on democracy; the ‘fanatical Islamic terrorist’ in Richard Desmond’s paper represents the Muslim as the Other – an old colonialist stereotype whereby those from the non-West were seen as uncivilized and barbaric. This reflects the right-wing conservative values of the paper and its readership (currently 1.7 million but steadily declining) whereas ‘The Guardian’ takes a much more inclusive, internationalist perspective.

Issues and Debates quiz wk 2

Email your answers to Ms Jones.

1. Which 3-month strike looks set to be resolved just in time for the Oscars?
2. Which film surprised the bookies by winning the most Baftas?
3. Which recent media scandal appears to have hit BT's share price?
4. Which black comedian has recently criticised the media for being 'too white and too middle
   class'?
5. Who has attacked the BBC, complaining that its programming decisions are based on 'its own survivalist needs rather than the licence-payer's desires'?

Prize for most correct quiz answers to be awarded in the summer (and I promise it'll be more substantial than a commendation).

Issues and Debates quiz wk1

Read the Media Guardian regularly? Think you know a fair bit about issues and debates in the media? Then email the answers to the following quiz to Ms Jones. Expect to see a new quiz every week. There will be a prize at the end of the year for the best-informed year 13 student. Good luck!

1. Which company is Microsoft in merger talks with, and why?
2. Which Broadband provider narrowly avoided sanctions from the ASA this week?
3. Who featured on YouTube, describing scientology as 'a blast'?
4. What, according to Screen Digest's latest report, is behind a 38% increase in online TV viewing?
5. Which controversial E4 drama is set to return for a second series?

Media Mentor Vacancies

• Do you want valuable and rewarding paid work?

• Are you responsible, mature and capable of being a positive role model?

• Have you got excellent video editing skills?

We invite Year 13 students to apply for the post(s) of Media Studies Student Mentors. The appointment(s) are intended to improve the provision of video editing support for Year 12s undertaking their production coursework.

The successful A2 students - to be selected at formal interview - will work different shifts in the video editing suite on Mondays to Fridays (exact times to be negotiated; a combination of 8am to 9am, and 3.30pm to 5.30pm) starting on 03-03-08 for a total of 9 weeks at a rate of £7.50/hour for each student.

The students will only work (and be paid) when necessary as there are likely to be some occasions when they are not needed. They will report directly to Ms. Jones, Ms Stevens, Ms Sivanesan or Mr. Babu, one of whom will be on call every day to direct them, help out with any problems and lock up at the end of the sessions.

Tasks will include...

• Providing induction and ongoing support to AS students with the use of Adobe Premiere Pro
  

• Offering feedback to students about the quality of their practical work (both verbally and in daily blog postings)

• Giving support and advice on the use of camera equipment

• Starting up and shutting down PCs

• Maintaining order in the edit suites & limiting access to Media students

• Troubleshooting minor software issues

• Reporting larger problems to Mr Babu
  

• Keeping the edit suites tidy & the equipment in good working order

• Helping students to source archived music & video clips

• Producing tip sheets and displays to help students use the equipment

• Running off DV copies of finalized productions

• Making DVD copies of productions for the exam board

If you wish to apply for these posts you must write a 300-500 word statement outlining your reasons for wanting to take up the position and the qualities and experience that you think make you suitable for the role. You may also wish to comment on how this will help you in your future studies/career. This must be emailed to Macguffin before Monday 25-02-08.

You will be informed by email if you have been shortlisted and those selected will be called for interview (before a panel to include Mr Bush, Mr Babu and a Year 12 student) during the first week back after half term on Wednesday 27-02-08, period 4 & lunch.

Good luck!