Year 12 Media exam: Learner response

A Level Media - End of year 1 exam: Learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

Didn't get any

2) Read the mark scheme for this exam carefully, paying particular attention to the 'indicative content' for each question. Identify ONE point you could have added for the first three questions in Section A:

Q1 additional point/theory: 

Intertextuality: cover creates intertextual reference to King Kong stories/movies of 1950s which engages audience using narrative.

Q2 additional point/theory/CSP reference: 

Mans Life: Applying Gelfer – this is stage 1 masculinity (unconscious masculinity) and reflects the thinking of the time.

Maybelline: Reflects gender fluidity in modern culture (Gelfer – stage 3/4/5 masculinity)

Q3 additional point/theory/CSP reference: 

Common - Letter to the free: Dyson – political hip hop; Rose – hip hop giving a voice to urban black American. Gilroy – black diasporic identity. The idea that black culture is still influenced by slavery and diaspora (the forced removal from country/continent of origin).

MJ - Billie Jean: Important cultural and historical artist in terms of black representation - changing black representation in music.

3) Section B requires you to write extended essays with 35 minutes and 5-7 well-developed paragraphs per question (excluding introduction and conclusion). Count the number of paragraphs you wrote for each question in Section B excluding your introduction/conclusion:

Q6 number of paragraphs: 2

Q7 number of paragraphs: 1

4) Question 6 (TV industry) was arguably the hardest question on the exam. Write a new paragraph that answers the question referring to either Capital or Deutschland 83 and the global TV industry. Use the indicative content in the mark scheme to help you.

Deutschland 83 reflects the global nature of the television industry to a large extent as it is an example of an internationally co-funded production and reflects the rise in foreign language. Deutschland 83 is an internationally co-funded production of German and American money distributed by fremantle media (same as capital). The fact that it is a co funded production shows the global nature of the programme as different countries have put in money to it showing the relevance of it to wide audiences. Deutschland 83 also reflects the rise in foreign language TV drama. Walter Presents from Channel 4 is VOD

streaming service with international long-form drama. Audiences increasingly comfortable with subtitles and open to stories told over many hours.

5) Question 7 was a synoptic question that rewarded your ability to cover all four key concepts of Media. Write a new paragraph for this essay using the indicative content in the mark scheme to help you.

Media Language

 Winning formula – well established front cover conventions. Central image, cover lines, masculine colour scheme, mix of serif and sans serif typefaces.

 Vin Diesel a strong central image – pose very deliberate to emphasise body shape. Delivering what Men’s Health readers expect.

 Design emphasises value of offering – packed front cover suggests huge amount of content. Cover lines with ‘127’and ‘103’ also suggests a wealth of information inside.

 Audiences feel part of the magazine, are rewarded for their knowledge and have their expectations met.

Media Industries

 Decline in print due to rise in new/digital media.

 Men’s Health declined sharply but has come back up slightly (settled at 180,000 circulation).

 Diversification has strengthened Men’s Health brand with move into home gym equipment and supplements.

 Digital platforms offer a slightly different version of the brand to retain and expand audience – more ‘clickbait’ articles on sex and relationships plus motivational posts on Instagram. An attempt to bring in a younger audience?

Media Representations

 Men’s Health has moved with the changing face of masculinity while retaining elements of hypermasculinity. Five cover lines emphasise diet or weight loss – a very different masculinity compared to 50 years ago (e.g. Score hair cream). However, cover lines offer aggressive, hypermasculine language (“slay”; “demolish”).

 MH appeals to and retains the ‘metrosexual’ male – focus on grooming and appearance (narcissism?) while also retaining elements of traditional masculinity (strength, leadership, power).

Media Audiences

 Magazine offers a range of audience pleasures: Uses and Gratifications – personal identity and surveillance. Readers see their lives and ambitions reflected on the pages and are provided with solutions and workouts to achieve their goals.

 Articles demonstrate Men’s Health is willing to move with the times – mental health feature; ‘Marathon Man’ feature focuses on older men maintaining active lifestyle.

 Editor’s Letter is strange mix between highly educated and highbrow (Greek myths;sophisticated language) and traditional masculine goals.

Men's Health magazine has managed to retain a loyal audience despite the impact of digital media on traditional print industries through it's media audiences. The magazine offers a range of audience pleasures such as personal identity and surveillance (Users and Gratifications theory). Readers see their lives, lifestyle and ambitions reflected on the pages and are provided with solutions and workouts to achieve their goals. The magazine also acknowledges the fact that their target audience is predominantly of traditional masculine beliefs and Men's Health reflects this through their content. The editor's letter is a mixture of highly educated and highbrow content with traditional masculine goals - this would appeal to their target audience as they feel they are able to relate and recognise themselves with in the magazine.