Year 13 Critical Research Study

I hope you are all having a good weekend and working hard to secure a decent grade on your critical Research Study re-sit. I am still awaiting notes from some individuals and need these by 9.00am by the latest on Monday morning if you want to use them in the exam. I also need to give everyone a front sheet to complete and sign. Could you please collect this from me on Monday morning? Thank you. Work hard, and remember to read! Good luck and I'll see you on Monday to give out Front sheets. 

Critical Research Study Re-sit - Sport and the Media stuff for Habib and Adam

BT, Setanta, Top Up TV and Virgin Media - Ofcom Pay-TV consultation response

Publish at Scribd or explore others: School Work Non-fiction Business

Useful Secondary Wider Reading:
http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/838529/Setanta-gives-advertisers-choice-Sky-share-live-football-rights

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-to-cash-in-on-tv-windfall-1545159.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2009/01/good_reasons_to_stay_up_late_1.html

A bit Fight and Ricky Hatton focused but some good audience debate and feedback that adds to your debates

http://www.rickyhitmanhatton.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=12966.0

http://www.digital-tv.co.uk/blog/category/setanta

Year 13 CRITICAL RESEARCH STUDY NOTES

Just a quick reminder that:

ALL CRITICAL RESEARCH STUDY NOTES ARE DUE TO BE SUBMITTED TOMORROW BY 3.00PM WITH ACCOMPANYING COVER SHEET.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THEY MUST BE HAND WRITTEN AND MUST NOT CONTAIN ANY EVIDENCE OF ESSAY PLANNING. IF THEY CONTAIN ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE INTERPRETED AS AN ESSAY PLAN YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THEM IN THE EXAM ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THIS INCLUDES ANY DODGY COLOUR CODING! 

Good luck and remember my clinic is on P5 tomorrow if you would like any help or support. 

CRITICAL RESEARCH STUDY MOCK EXAMS

Good Evening everyone. I hope you have all enjoyed a super-noodle-dandy weekend and feel ready for the Mocks this week. My Friday class will sit the mock in Leanne's lesson on Wednesday. My other class will sit the exam on Thursday in my double.

I have been reading through quite a few essays and a very common error being made for Q1 is the tense you are writing in. Q1 is about the research methods you selected and used, and why? It therefore needs to be written in the PAST TENSE! I want to know what you did and why? NOT WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO! 

Also, Lewis asked if I could put together a bank of KEY MEDIA WORDS to use in your essays, so here goes:

The FOUR KEY CONCEPTS THAT UNDERPIN THE COURSE AND YOUR ESSAYS ARE: AUDIENCE, INSTITUTION, REPRESENTATION, FORMS AND CONVENTIONS:

Audience - primary audience, secondary audience, profile, sociographic, psychographic, ABC1, uses and gratifications, effects, mass, niche, respondents, 4C's (Young and Rubican's theory), lifestyle, brand identity, brand loyalty, taste, mode of address, complex, patterns of consumption, fickle, viewing habits,

Institution - broadcast, narrowcast, mainstream, independent, PSB, commercial, dominant ideologies, transgressive ideologies, censorship, regulation, monopolisation, industry, oligopolies, Transnational Corporations, mode of address, scheduling, media placement, advertising revenue, vertically integrated, production, distribution, exhibition, consumption, synergy, symbiotic relationship, patriarchal order, patriarchy, glass ceiling

Representation -  gender, sexuality, race, religion, age, ability, stereotypes, constructed identities, identity, male gaze, scopophillic gaze/ Narcissistic gaze / fragmentation / objectification (Laura Mulvey)/ ideological messages and values, voyeuristic, verisimilitude, female gaze, hetrosexual gaze, dominant ideology, transgressive ideologies, mode of address, implied, suggested, explicit, conventional, unconventional, challenging, subversive, undermine, patriarchy, matriarch, patriarchal order, ideological overtones, feminism, gender politics, socialisation, hyper-masculinity. THESE ARE CONSTRUCTED THROUGH FORMS AND CONVENTIONS

Forms and conventions - FORMS = TEXT TYPE (Magazines, films, TV, Radio etc.) GENRE and sub-genres. Conventions = Cinematography, sound, lighting, mise-en-cene, SFX, editing, headlines, subheading, slogans, shot type, framing, fragmentation, pace, movement, celebrity endorsement. 

I hope these are useful. I'll try and add some more later as my brain feels like it has been fried! See you next week. Only 5 Days to go! x

Year 13 Critical Research Study Mock Exam Notice

I understand from Leanne that there is an air of panic about the Critical Research Mock Exams next week. Given that I have been off poorly I have decided to move the mocks into the last week of this term (an extension - yipeeee I hear you cry!), giving us next week to construct notes. I have posted some advice about notes on a blog posting yesterday so please have a look at these. I still have only received 2 essays and really do need to see some evidence of essay preparation by next week. 

Becky and Si Pui I have added the 'Women and Film' Essay 2 outline as requested and updated the original posting which can be found under 'Year 13 Critical Research' zone (see top of 'Noodle' under Quote of the Week). Sorry it's a bit late in getting up there! 

In a previous post I asked you to begin the process of writing your notes. Here is the document I am sent by the exam board regarding the 'RULES' on what can and cannot go into your notes. 

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/prerelease_materials/L_A_Level_Media_Studies_PRM_Unit_2734_Instruction_for_Teachers_Jan_2009.pdf

This document will also prove useful to many of you interested in knowing how your MOCK will be marked. This is the Exam Board Assessment Criteria PDF for all examiners marking papers for A/S and A'level last June. You can find the Assessment Criteria for the Critical Research exam by scrolling down a few pages once entering this document.
http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/mark_schemes_2008/L_A_Level_Media_Studies_MS_Jun_2008.pdf

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. I hope to be back in school on Monday. x

A'level Media Studies - Critical Research Study Stuff For You

Women and Horror - Some stuff for Lewis and Remdeep

This site offers some insight into important feminist theories around Women and Horror films including Carol Clover's exploration of representations of women in Horror. You should be making reference to these theories if you want the A-C grades! 

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1775841

Another theory based site this time drawing upon the work of feminist theorist Laura Mulvey

http://www.helium.com/items/132886-women-in-horror-films-ripley-the-alien-and-the-monstrous-feminine

Top 25 Women of Horror - useful maybe

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/816579/top_25_women_of_horror.html?cat=40

Year 13 Media - Critical Research Study Mock Exam Countdown

With your Critical Research Study Mock Exam in 

ONE WEEK 

it is crucial that you complete the two essays that we have gone through in lessons. I have posted essay frameworks on 'The Noodle' already and you need to use these to write your responses. If you have missed these lessons, take a look at the paper so that you are familiar with its structure (again posted on an earlier Critical Research post). This week I will focus on writing the four sides of notes that you can take into the mock with you next week. I hope you will rise to the challenge and work hard to realise your potential. We have spent one term on the research, and now it's time to communicate what you have learnt from this process. Dave Jelliman is the only student so far to submit 'Essay 1 - Research Methods'. Well Done Dave - you are high on my 'Love-O-Meter'. See you all next week and Good Luck with your Drama performances this week.  

Help with Answering Q1 and Q2 on Critical Research

As we move towards the mock exam in three weeks, it is imperative that you begin to prepare your written essay responses. You should have started the process of 'summarising' your research evidence and now be ready to begin the process of drafting essays. 

Your homework for next week's lesson is to write your response to Q1 using the guidance below.

Here is an example of a Critical Research Past Paper to get you familiar with its layout and structure:

http://www.ocr.org.uk/Data/publications/past_papers_2007_january/L_A_Level_Media_Studies_2734_Jan_2007_Question_paper.pdf

Here is the 'Word' document I used in class today to help you with the structuring of Q1 and Q2:

A’ Level Media Studies 2008/2009
Critical Research Study Exam: Top Tips

What you have to do...10 useful tips

To do well in this project you must...

1. Use six different methods, some secondary and some primary
2. Use at least two different sources for each method
3. Fully reference all your sources
4. Be able to detail advantages and disadvantages of each method and source
5. Show how the material you have used links together and forms a trail of research
6. Back all your points with examples and explanation
7. Write for an hour each on your methods and your findings, relating the latter to the broader topic itself
8. Do the work yourself!
9. Be ready for the exam on Jan 22 2009
10. Write your responses before the Mock Exam

How to Answer Question 1:

1. You need a brief introduction which sets out which area you are investigating and what your specific focus is. Make sure you outline clearly your ‘hypothesis/question’ and make specific reference to any key texts that form the basis of your research (Crime Watch / Key film texts/ focus papers if looking at Tabloids).

2. You then need a series of paragraphs on each of your methods, which should include reference to at least four secondary and at least two primary. Each paragraph needs to include:
an account of the method which will involve some explanation of the reasons why it has been employed.
examples (for secondary) of two sources, fully referenced and their content briefly explained; at least one specific detail from each source (e.g. a quote) and an evaluatioon of the strengths and weaknesses of the method overall.

You should end with a conclusion, which should be brief and sum up your main points. Your FINDINGS can be left to Question 2

Extra tips: Leave a line between each paragraph, don't make your paragraphs last more than a page, highlight key points if you want.

How to answer Question 2:

Question 1 was about METHODS and paragraphs should be organised by method, Question 2 is about FINDINGS and paragraphs should perhaps be organised by concepts so that there is clear distinction between the two.

A structure something like this should work

1. Introduction- what are the key issues in relation to your area of study ?

For example you might consider:

Women and Film: funding/ distribution/ the celluloid ceiling/patriarchal order/ feminist perspectives of industry(Inst) how they reach audiences and how audiences receive/ interpret and watch the films / audience pleasures (Aud) how they represent women/men/gender and what social, political and historical commentary they offer about gender politics (Rep) how they are similar to/differ from similar genre films created by men / similar different to other films of same era/What film language is used to convey representations - editing, sound, cinematography, mise-en-scene etc. (forms and conventions).

World Cinema: funding/distribution (Inst) how they reach audiences and how audiences receive/interpret/watch the films (aud) how they represent the culture (rep) how they are similar to/differ from western films (forms/conv)

TV Drama: budgets/scheduling/distribution in other formats e.g. DVD, competition with other genres, extra-textual life e.g. spin-off progs (Inst) issues covered and how they represent social groups (Rep) conventions e.g. genre, innovation or not (F and C) audience pleasures (Aud)

Politics: how we learn about issues and politics (Rep), forms and conventions of coverage (F/C) audience participation (aud) bias and PSB (Inst)

Sport: how sports may be represented (nationalism, gender etc) dominance of certain sports and certain teams v minority coverage (Rep) conventions of coverage (F/C) importance of sport to media and of media to sport local sport/media (inst) and audience reception of sport in media (aud)

Children: concerns about what is represented to children/how they are represented (Rep) what kids understand/the impact of media texts upon them/their pleasures (aud) importance of child audiences to media institutions (Inst) the forms and convs of children’s media texts (F/C)

2. Paragraph 2: How does your specific focus relate to the issues in the topic as a whole?

3. Paragraphs 3-6 one on each of the conceptual areas:
Institution, Representation, Forms and Conventions, Audience as they relate to your topic. Maybe more than one paragraph on some areas but throughout referring to research method, sources, references, quotes, ideas, etc.

4. Paragraph 7 – A conclusion summing-up whether or not you have successfully answered your hypothesis/question.

The Key to success is to cross reference concepts (Institution, Representation, Forms and Conventions, Audience) with your research

Is it getting critical? Some useful stuff for all you Critical Researchers

Liam: I know you have struggled with finding some relevant stuff for your topic of Junk Food Advertising and the impact on Teens. There is a lot of stuff written about children but lots of it relevant to the age group being explored in your study. I have found a few super links for you to read and annotate and I hope these are useful. The first is an A'level student blog with some excellent theory and references to some really interesting research sites. Have a good browse. 

http://criticalresearchsiobhan.blogspot.com/

http://www.whitedovebooks.co.uk/inspiration-personalhealth/2008/09/junk-food-is-increasing-teen-obesity.html

http://www.commercialalert.org/news/archive/2006/04/proved-tv-leads-to-junk-food-diet

https://www.teenink.com/raw/Health/article/20953/Advertisingpromoting-an-unhealthy-future/

Research - The Essential Guide

Greetings Bloggers! Here is the BFI Essential Guide to research that you can now access electronically should you have mislaid your paper copy. A super little resource full of excellent information about research methodologies and their inherent strengths and weaknesses which will prove invaluable for all you 'Critical Researchers' but also for Film students doing small-scale research. Remember you need to have all your primary and secondary research completed by the end of this week!

http://exchsvr/exchange/mooren/Inbox/Media%20Stuff.EML/1_multipart_xF8FF_3_bfi-edu-resources_research-the-essential-guide.pdf/C58EA28C-18C0-4a97-9AF2-036E93DDAFB3/bfi-edu-resources_research-the-essential-guide.pdf?attach=1

Critical Research Study 2008

Only a few weeks to go before the mock exam on the week beginning 10th December 2008. It is really important that you begin to tie-up your secondary research and to help with this, I will post anything that I think is relevant for you on this thread. I hope it's useful!

George, Joe and Grant - Criminality and Music Artists (Docherty, Winehouse)

It would be good for you guys to place your topic in a context and to draw upon the idea that criminality and its link with music artists is long established and nothing new, particularly in relation to rock but also Hip-Hop, Rap etc. This site has got some nice quotes and some interesting questions to stimulate further thought. 

www.muchmusic.com/mediaed/guidepage_much.asp?studyID=8

This blog has got some great quotes on the 'Carnival of Celebrity Criminality' as you scroll down the first posting with other 'blogger' responses. 

http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2007/09/rock-star-foreplay.html

Oliver - Representations of Disabled Athletes

It's really important to support your primary research with secondary evidence derived from reading around the subject of disability and sport. Here are a few little gems that I have discovered that should help you to build-up a historical, social context and develop a greater understanding of the complexity of the debates and the relationships between athlete, media institutions, audience and ratings!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/sep/18/disability.television

www.mediadisability.org/documents/disability%20imagery%20and%20the%20media_CBarnes.pdf

www.mediaed.org.uk/posted_documents/DisabilityinMedia.htm

Gendered Cinema Area - Yr13 Media and Film

OK here goes! Nina-noodle has been doing some research for the topic of 'Women and Film' for A'level Media Critical Research students and for the FS6 Film Studies topic 'Gendered Cinema'. I have found some useful sites for some of you. I will add to this collection of goodies as and when I stumble accross little gems and post them here for you to browse. Maybe you too could share some resources when you find any to help your fellow comrades. Don't be selfish shellfish and keep them to yourself........SHARE. That's what makes the Media and Film Department soooooo lovely....we care and we share!

Tarantino's Women

http://www.straight.com/article-82844/tarantino-spins-sexploitation

http://www.grin.com/en/fulltext/fru/27138.html (A more academic article about Tarintino's treatment of women. The section on Female Sexuality Presentation and beyond is quite good.)

http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/04/grindhouse-kicking-ass-from-the-margins-in-b-horror/ (A really interesting blog focusing on Tarantino's recent move towards 'Grindhouse' with Planet Terror and Death Proof and their representations of women)

http://themanfromporlock.blogspot.com/2007/10/qt-and-women.html (Another good blog on your topic)

Representations of Women in Disney Films

Aimee and Aaron (Some Good Stuff For You)

http://www.newint.org/easier-english/Disney/diswomen.html

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/articles/gender_portrayal/break_mold.cfm

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/boardarchives/2005/mar2005/representwomendisney1.html (A really interesting blog on the topic posted by a Media comrade from another school)

http://www.fathermag.com/9607/Disney/

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/introduction/disneyfairytales.html

Here are some possible questions to structure your Hypothesis:
How has the representation of women in Disney films has changed overtime?
Heroines or victims of a patriarchal Order? A close study of representations of women in Disney films from Snow-White to Mulan.

Female Action/Adventure Heroines

For those of you looking at Action/Adventure heroines like Lara Croft/Electra etc. for your Critical Research Study, here's a few useful bits I have found for you:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1518634,00.html

http://www.girls-with-guns.co.uk/

http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/2007/06/action-heroine-hq.html

http://www.helium.com/tm/240527/female-action-heroines-increasingly

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/05/female_action_m.html

This is the Guardian's section on Gender with just lots of useful broad ranging gender related articles:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/gender/0,,670739,00.html

Representations of women in American Animation

http://www.otal.umd.edu/wmst498k/kk14/cartoon3.html - A good site on representations of women in American cartoons.

The Films of Pedro Almodavar

http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,766918,00.html