Welcome to Year 13!

MS4 – the Exam

• 2 ½ hours

• 3 industries (Film, TV & Video Games)

• For each industry you need to know 3 different texts.

• 2 need to be contemporary and at least 1 needs to be a British Film.

– For Film = Spectre (2015), The Hunger Games (2012) and Paddington (2014)

Text

Mindmap: What we need to know

Section A

Section B

MEDIA STUDIES – MS4

Media – Text, Industry and Audience

Answer one question from Section A and two questions from

Section B.

You must use a different media industry for each question.

For each industry, you must refer to the three main texts you

have studied.

SECTION A: TEXT

Answer one question from this section.

You must refer to the three main texts you have studied in each

answer

Previous Section A Questions

Either,• A1. To what extent are the key representations in your three main texts

stereotypical? [30]Or, • A2. Explore the genre conventions in your three main texts. [30]

Either,• A1. Explore the narrative structure of your three main texts. [30]Or, • A2. ‘Most texts today mix genres.’ How true is this of your three main texts? [30]

Either, • A1. Explore how the key representations in your three main texts have been

constructed. [30]Or, • A2. Explore how narrative is constructed in your three main texts. [30]

• B1. What do texts offer audiences? Refer to your three main texts in your answer. [30]

• B2. How do your three main texts use digital technology? [30]• B3. How do your three main texts position audiences? [30]• B4. To what extent are your three main texts global? [30]

• B1. Discuss the different ways audiences are positioned by your three main texts. [30]

• B2. All media texts are subject to regulation. How has regulation affected your three main texts?

• [30]• B3. Explore the key factors which influence the production of your

three main texts. [30]• B4. Discuss actual audience responses to your three main texts.

[30]

SECTION B: INDUSTRY AND AUDIENCE

Answer two questions from this section, using a different media industry for each.

You must refer to the three main texts you have studied in each answer.

What genre is Spectre?

An adventure film?

What genre is Spectre?

Consider with your peers what each of these 5 terms mean to you. Create a list/mind map of the codes and conventions of each. How could Spectre be defined as any of these?

An adventure film?

Genre TheoryDaniel Chandler: Conventional definitions of genres tend to be based on the notion that they constitute particular conventions of content (such as themes or settings) and/or form (including structure and style) which are shared by the texts which are regarded as belonging to them.

“It is difficult to make clear-cut distinctions between one genre and another: genres overlap, and there are 'mixed genres' such as comedy-thrillers” (Chandler, 2000) .

It is easy to underplay the differences within a genre. Steve Neale declares that 'genres are instances of repetition and difference' (Neale 1980, 48). He adds that 'difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre': mere repetition would not attract an audience.

Repertoire of Elements

Nick Lacey (2000) considers the 'repertoire of elements' that work in combination to suggest a media text belongs to a particular genre or mix of genres.

He provides a useful framework to follow when analysing genre. Lacey breaks a text down into these five areas to identify the elements in each:

– Setting

– Character

– Narrative

– Iconography

– Style

Blumler and Katz: 'Uses and gratifications‘ research has identified many potential pleasures of genre, including the following: •One pleasure may simply be the recognition of the features of a particular genre because of our familiarity with it. Recognition of what is likely to be important (and what is not), derived from our knowledge of the genre, is necessary in order to follow a plot.

•Deborah Knight notes that 'satisfaction is guaranteed with genre; the deferral of the inevitable provides the additional pleasure of prolonged anticipation' (Knight 1994).

Genre and Audience

Can you think of any other films that parody the James Bond films?