AS January Exam - Revision Guide

AS Media Studies Timeline

Section A: Textual Analysis: Our Work Plan

1.       Attempt 2009 Dr Who question in timed conditions

2.       Reflect upon feedback and redraft

3.       Textual analysis OCR sample scripts- research of Examiner’s Reports

4.       Attempt State of Play – representation of status/ ethnicity (mark and students redraft)

5.       Attempt Sugar Rush  - representation of Sugar Rush (mark and redraft)

6.       Attempt period drama e.g. Dowton Abbey or good text for age

7.       Also cover other representational issues – (age, regional/ national identity, youth culture, disability which was covered last year. PLEASE NOTE AGE HAS NOT BEEN CROPPED UP SINCE JAN2009, ETHNICITY SINCE JAN 2010 AND GENDER SINCE JUNE 2010!!!) 

·         By January exam should have completed a minimum of 4 textual analyses in timed conditions AND redrafts with teacher’s comments/ SA 

Section B – Film and Institutions

You will be covering a lot of material as this topic is challenging. It is VITAL that you use some time in the exam to work out the most relevant material and you should spend five minutes PLANNING your response to ensure you answer the question.

It is advised that you regularly respond to the long answer questions set by EH and GW on this topic so that you can draw upon this work in the exam. You should be familiar with at least one example of a Hollywood film that has been able to market a film at great cost and be confident to compare this to British examples (Independent Film companies) and understand the concepts of co-production, horizontal and vertical integration, synergy USING MEDIA SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AT ALL TIMES TO CONVEY YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS TOPIC. You should also understand the role of the British Film Council (linked to the British cultural Test) which can offer governmental funding) and Film Four as a major British production company, often working in co-production (increasingly with Danish/Swedish and global counterparts). Also think about using Michael Winterbottom (Everyday) as an example of a British filmmaker who does not use contemporary methods exhaustively and can be categorised as a traditional British filmmaker who is still making movies, without the intention of making massive profits BUT still successful in serving niche film audiences.

Regularly look at the past questions listed below and practise planning your response WITH DETAILED EXAMPLES, writing a highly effective intro (making a POINT in the opening statement) and ending with a thoughtful quotation. This is the best way to revise:

Jan 2009

·         Extract Monarch of the Glen AGE

·         Discuss the ways in which media products are produced and distributed to audiences in the film industry

 

June 2009

·         Extract Dr Who Gender

·         How important is technological convergence for institutions and audiences within a media area which you have studied?

Jan 2010

·         Extract Hotel Babylon Ethnicity

·         “Media production is dominated by global institution which sells their products and services to national audiences.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?” 

Jan 2011

·         Extract Hustle GENDER

·         Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production and exchange of media texts in film

June 2011

·         Extract Merlin CLASS AND STATUS

·         “Successful media products depend as much upon marketing and distribution to a specific audience as they do upon good production practices.” To what extent would you agree with this statement, within the media area you have studied?

Jan 2012

·         Extract Fingersmith SEXUALITY

·         To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied?