8th February: Revision 2: Genre & Narrative Theories

STARTER

Let's start with a few quick quizzes;


REVIEW

You will now have 5 minutes to review the feedback from last week's assignment. Use the feedback to improve future responses, maintaining an academic lexis.

EXPLAIN & MODEL

KEY THEORY: GENRE THEORY

Key Points:

  • Each genre has a repertoire of elements that are recognisable to audiences due to repetition over time.
  • However, some contemporary media products may be less easy to categorise; they may belong to sub-genres or hybrid genres.
  • The typical codes and conventions may also be subverted by the creator of the product in order to challenge audience expectations while still including familiar elements.
  • Steve Neale's Genre Theory:
  • Suggests that genres may be dominated by repetition, but they are also marked by difference, variation and change.
  • Suggests that genres change, develop and vary as they borrow from and overlap with one another.
  • Suggests that genres exist within specific economic, institutional and industrial contexts (broadcaster ethos, existing audiences, revenue & market).
Quick Question: What is the difference between a sub-genre and a hybrid?

Key Language:

  • Conventions
  • Repetition
  • Difference
  • Sub-Genre
  • Hybrid

KEY THEORY: NARRATIVE THEORY

Key Points:

  • All media products, both audio-visual and print, have a structure or narrative.
  • Narratives are important to construct meaning. The narrative is a way of organising a text so that it makes sense to the audience.
  • Narratology is the study of narrative.
  • Tzvetan Todorov's Narrative Theory:
  • Suggests that all narratives share a basic structure that involves movement from one state of equilibrium to another (Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition, Repair, New Equilibrium)
  • Suggests that the two states of equilibrium are separated by a period of imbalance or disequilibrium.
  • Suggests that the way in which narratives are resolved can have a particular ideological significance.
Quick Question: Can you think of any media texts that do not share this basic narrative structure?

Key Language:

  • Equilibrium
  • Disruption
  • Enigma Codes
  • Flexi-Narratives
  • Linear
  • Manipulation of Time and Space
  • Non-Linear
  • Privileged Spectator Position
  • Three-Strand Narrative (E.g. Casualty)
  • Cliffhanger

PRACTISE

Genre Theory:

Examine the media text below and answer the question that follows (Google Assignment).
  1. How does this film poster illustrate elements of Steve Neale's Theory? Consider the following;
    • What are the typical codes and conventions of the film genre used in the poster?
    • What elements of hybridity are evident?
    • How is the repertoire of elements subverted in order to appeal to a specific audience demographic?


Narrative Theory

Click on this link and suggest captions for the image to anchor meaning, constructing two opposing narratives. Screenshot your suggestions and post in your blog.

Click on this link and complete the narrative structure summary for a media text you know well. Screenshot your response and post in your blog.

2nd February: Revision 1: The Theoretical Framework

Each lesson we will revise an aspect of the course. You will then be asked to demonstrate your understanding of that aspect by completing an unprepared task. Let's make a start...

KEY THEORY: SEMIOTICS

Key Points:

  • Roland Barthes
  • Suggests the idea that all texts communicate their meaning through a series of signs, the meanings of which are decoded by the audience.
  • Signs function at the level of denotation and connotation.
  • Signs can communicate the ideology of a society and, as such, become accepted because they appear natural through repetition over time.
  • Audiences may not decode signs in the same way; their responses will be affected by a range of other factors.
Quick Question: What are the range of factors that may affect the audience's response?

Key Language:
  • Semiotics
  • Denotation
  • Polysemic
  • Connotation
  • Decoding
  • Encoding
  • Sign
  • Codes

Application:

To test your ability to define and apply the key language, complete the Educaplay activity on our Google Classroom.


VISUAL CODES
  • Clothing
  • Colour
  • Expression
  • Gesture
  • Graphics
  • Iconography
  • Images
  • Technique (see below)

TECHNICAL CODES (Audio Visual Products)
  • Camera Shot (distance)
  • Camera Shot (focus)
  • Camera Angle
  • Camera Movement
  • Transitions
  • Lighting
  • Diegetic / Non-Diegetic Sound
  • Contrapuntal / Parallel Underscore

TECHNICAL CODES (Print Products)
  • Design & Layout
  • Graphics
  • Image shot types
  • Image colour, etc

TIP: When exploring technical codes, you must make sure that you don't just describe / label the technical code. You must focus on the purpose and the effect of it too!


TASK

Use the extract below to answer the question in the 'Unseen Analysis 1' assignment on Google Classroom. You have 20 minutes to complete your response. At the end of the 20 minutes, we will review the responses, signposting excellence and suggesting EBIs. Use time references to signpost examples. I will model a review before sending you to breakout rooms in pairs.


Additional Information: Villanelle (Blonde) and Eve (Dark Hair).

We will use Google Doc comments to review each other's work. Once the review process is over, you will have time to make improvements to your response, using a different colour to identify these improvements. Once this is complete, you will hand in your assignment.

Podcasts

Just listened to your podcasts. Obviously, I can't give you feedback but just wanted to say...


 

NEA Aims & Intentions Document

Live Lesson at 11:00am on Monday 25th January

SMART START

The often visited Media Quiz checking that you can link theories and theorists. The year 12 students use this every lesson and now over half the class gets full marks every time (the order of questions and answers changes, so not just a familiarity thing). Therefore, I highly recommend taking this quiz on a regular basis; it takes less than 3 minutes. The minimum expectation for today is to achieve 20/26 at this point in the course. If you get below that, please try again.

INTRODUCTION

The Aims & Intentions document is the only assessed non-exam piece of writing you complete for A-Level media. It is short but it's worth a suprising amount of marks; 17% of the total Component 3 marks!

The Aims and Intentions document should be written BEFORE you start the NEA, so should always be written in the future tense, E.g. "I will..." or "It is my intention to...", etc.

You are restricted to a maximum of 500 words for this document but your probably won't be wondering what to write; it'll be getting what you need to write down to just 500 words.

SUCCESS CRITERIA

To begin with, let's have a look at the success criteria;



THE BRIEF

Use evidence from your research into: similar products; the industry context; your target audience, as well as theoretical perspectives, to explain your decisions:
  1. How and why will you use media language in your cross-media production?
  2. How and why will you construct representations of individuals, groups and issues/events?
  3. How will you target your intended audience?
  4. How will your production conform to its industry context? How will your cross-media production demonstrate digital convergence?
SUPPORT FOR EACH QUESTION:
  1. Explain how you intend to use media language in your production, e.g. visual codes, technical codes, narrative and design.
  2. You should include people in your products to allow you to construct appropriate representations. Outline how you intend to do this, e.g. costume, gestures, setting, props, voices, etc
  3. Who is the intended audience for your production (it says in the requirements below). How do you intend to target this audience in your products? How do you intend to use model of address to target your audience (informal, formal, direct, etc). How will your product appeal to your target audience?
  4. How do you intend to use the conventions of the genre to illustrate the industry context (context identified in the requirements below).
GENERAL SUPPORT
  1. You should refer specifically to the research you completed. What similar products did you examine? What did you take from that research (conventions, stereotypes, etc).
  2. A should refer to each of the magazine elements (front cover, double-page spread, advertorial).
  3. A final paragraph should tie all your products together, referring to the podcast and explaining how it complements your main print product.
  4. Refer specifically to elements of our theoretical framework (reference theories / theorists).
  5. Use product-specific terminology and language (masthead, page furniture, close-up, caption, anchor, stand first, sound bed, fade-in, jingle, on-location interview, etc)
THE NEA REQUIREMENTS

When answering these questions, you should always keep in mind the requirements of the NEA (target audience, industry context, etc). Here is a reminder of the requirements;




MODELS

Here is one Aims and Intentions Doc that is quite good (band 4); it's just missing a final paragraph referring to the other products in the cross-media portfolio of products and there's no specific reference to the theoretical framework.


This one is ok (band 2) but it doesn't make reference to identified similar products or the theoretical framework and is a bit too generic (not enough details about how representations will be constructed).


Here is another one that is good (band 5) and the only thing missing are the specific references to the theoretical framework.


And finally, a couple of ours from last year. These are both excellent (band 5) submissions:



ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Here are some resources I found relating to this task. They may help you too;

Audio Blocks

I have been informed (by Joe & Cole) that the AudioBlocks subscription has run out. It will be a few days before I can renew the subscription so, in the meantime, use free sound effects websites. A few are listed below;

FreeSound

BBC Sound Effects

ZapSplat

FreeSFX

YouTube Sound Library

If you are having difficulty finding a specific sound that you need to complete your podcast, let me know and I'll join the search!

Annoucement

 I've posted the Theory Summary document we spoke about on our Google Classroom. Hope it helps.

5th Jan - 25 Jan

At the start of each of these timetabled lessons, you should take our media quiz, maintaining a familiarity with our theoretical framework. I will be monitoring results live! I will base the register on who completes this quiz (i.e. you need to complete the quiz to get an attendance 'present' mark).

NEA Completion & Support

Ok, with mock exams and remote learning requirements it's not a clean start to the term. Unfortunately, once again, I have to shield until the 1st Feb. Really sorry!

With all of this in mind, I have extended the deadline for the podcast NEA which means, despite the exams and disruption, you should now have plenty of time to plan and record your podcast. You have 3 weeks to complete the work and the final submission date is 25th January, 9:00am.

As usual, I will be online during our timetabled lessons to answer any questions you have relating to the use of the software which, in this case, is Adobe Audition (remember, I can't help you with the creative aspects of the NEA or provide any feedback).

Hopefully see you soon!

Finally, a reminder of the NEA requirements for this element.



Monday 14th December: Podcast NEA Practice

SMART START

What about a short, but extended, media Quiz to start the lesson?

BIG PICTURE & EXPLANATION

The first thing we are going to do is to answer the following questions;

  1. How do I record a single audio file using Adobe Audition?
  2. How do I trim my audio recording?
  3. How do I add effects to improve the quality of my audio recording?
  4. How do you export individual sound files from Adobe Audition?
These questions are answered in the following tutorial;


We are then going to answer these questions;
  1. How do you make multiple audio recordings using Adobe Audition?
  2. How do you import other sound files into Adobe Audition?
  3. How do you set up a multitrack session in Adobe Audition?
  4. How do you mix tracks in Adobe Audition?
  5. How do you add key frames to change the volume of tracks at various points?
  6. How do you export your completed multitrack mix?
These questions are answered in the following tutorial;


Once you've had a 'play' and got more familiar with the interface, complete the following task...

PRACTISE

NEA PRACTICE INTERVIEW

As a group, record, edit and mix a short interview for our 'Sixth Form Weekly' podcast. One of you will be the interviewer and somebody else will be the interviewee. The focus of the interview should be 'How to Pass A Level Media Studies'. You have 5 minutes to prepare questions and consider reponses.

Once the audio is recorded, share the individual audio files between you and, on an individual basis, complete the final mix before submitting your exported WAV file to our Google Classroom. You must include the following elements in the final mix...
  • An opening (and appropriate) jingle
  • A presenter introduction (who will be the presenter?)
  • A continous soundbed that is edited so the interview can be heard clearly throughout.
  • An appropriate ending to the interview (thanks, goodbye and jingle).

GOOD LUCK!

Tuesday 8th December: Podcast NEA Preparation

I have to go to the doctors first thing, so I'm going to be a little late this morning. Sorry.

Please make a start on the podcast/radio interview script; the last piece of work to complete our NEA. Examine the requirements below. If you have written your script, have a look at Adobe Audition, the software we are going to use to record, arrange and mix our interview.


When I arrive, you must be able to answer the following questions;
  1. Which of your magazine front page cover lines are you focusing on?
  2. Who will be the presenter?
  3. Who will be interviewed?
  4. Where will your second location be?
  5. Which social group will be represented?
See you in a bit!

Monday 30th November

This is your last opportunity to complete the final piece of NEA (advertorial) without having a penalty for missing a formal NEA deadline. Please make the most of your time this lesson as the deadline is tomorrow! All of your print-based NEA should have been submitted by the end of tomorrow. Good luck!

Next week, we will start to focus on the audio NEA. There is only a single task and it shouldn't take too long to complete.

24th November: Magazine Advertorial

Ok. your magazine double-page spread is due today. Please submit via Google Classroom (Please don't put me in a position where I have to penalise you for missing a formal NEA deadline).

You now have a week to complete and submit your magazine advertorial, again via Google Classroom. The deadline is Tuesday 1st December, meaning you have at least 100 mins today and 100 mins next Monday. You are, of course, encouraged to use your own time too.

Here are some resources to help you, making sure that you follow industry conventions. I will also post the NEA requirements. I will be online to support you between 9:15am and 10:30am during our lesson (use the live meeting link on our Google Classroom if you need help).


Helpful Resources

The Ultimate Guide to Advertorials

Examples of Advertorial Designs

The 14 Keys to Writing Advertorials That Sell


Remember that, by law, advertorials have to be easily identifiable as an advert and not just an editorial (story). You may include the word 'sponsored' or 'advertisement' in a prominent position to stay within the law. Alternatively, you may think that your advertorial is obviously an advert and not need additional labelling.


Exam Board Requirements


16th November: Magazine Double-Page Spread

Morning.

Your task for today's lesson is straigthforward; complete the Dream video annotation (and hand-in via Google Classroom) and work on your NEA (to make sure you meet the published deadline). You are, of course, welcome to work from home on your own machines. 

Currently, only Tyler has handed in his Dream annotation, so work on that first.

I will be online (see link on our Google Classroom) for the first hour if you need help or want me to check out your double-page spread.

Magazine Front Covers

 Thanks for submitting these before the deadline. Some massive improvements. Well done. See what you can do when the pressure is on!


10th November: Dream by Dizzee Rascal

TODAY IS THE DAY YOU MUST HAND IN YOUR FINAL VERSION OF THE MAGAZINE FRONT COVER VIA GOOGLE CLASSROOM. THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER EXTENSIONS FOR THIS PIECE OF NEA.

NOTICE

Unfortunately, I'm not in school today as I have to isolate until 2nd December. I'm really sorry about that and wish I could be there for you. However, because I blog our lessons and we have access to a Google Meet via Google Classroom, this won't stop us learning. The only difference is that you are allowed to work from home rather than attend the classroom.

UPDATE: Because so many of you can't access the live lesson, I've added recorded tutorials to the blog instead, so that you can work your way through today's lesson. However, I will be online between 9:30am and 11:00am to answer any questions or guide you through a review of your NEA work (or anything else you need). Just come online and join the lesson from our Google Classroom when you need me. Hope that works better for you?

EXPLAIN

I believe we are yet to cover our set text, Dream by Dizzee Rascal. You will need your copy of Adobe Premiere Pro downloaded and installed on your computer (from Adobe Creative Cloud) for this task. If you have an alternative video editor, you may use that too (including WeVideo on Chromebooks).

The first thing we must do, however, is to understand the information in the Dream Factsheet, identifying and highlighting the key facts. If you are using a physical copy of the factsheet, you can use a highlighter pen. If you are downloading the facsheet as a pdf, you can use the highlighting tool in  Kami. You will have 15 minutes to read the sheet and to highlight the key facts. Here is a link to a tutorial, showing you how to download the factsheet and annotate in Kami. 


MODEL

In this tutorial I will show you how to complete the following tasks using Adobe Premiere Pro;
  • Import a video
  • Insert a video into the timeline
  • Add text to a video
  • Slice a video to provide room for an inter-title
  • Export a video, selecting an appropriate format

Adobe Premier Pro Tutorials


PRACTISE

Now, to demonstrate your understanding of the Dream video, you should annotate a copy using all the key facts you have identified.

  1. Download the Dream video from our Google Classroom.
  2. Take the key facts from the factsheet and annotate the Dream Video using Adobe Premiere Pro.
  3. Use a combination of text overlays and inter-titles. Remember, the information must be on screen long enough for someone to read it!
  4. Once completed, export the edited video as a H.264 video.
  5. Hand in the annotated video via Google Classroom.
  6. Upload the annotated video to your Google Drive too
  7. Post hyperlinks to the Dream Factsheet and your annotated video on your online learning journal.
_____________________________________


NEA FINAL SUBMISSION (DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD)


MODELS OF EXCELLENCE

Here are some examples of double-page spreads from published magazines. Use these as models for your own submissions.



REQUIREMENTS

Firstly, let's just remind ourselves of the requirements set out by the exam board.


MODEL

Now let's remind ourselves of the definitions:



DRAFT NEA REVIEW

Now Let's consider your draft submissions. For each, let's consider the following questions. I've added some key questions under each of your individual submissions too.
  1. Have all the requirements been met?
  2. Does the product look authentic? Does it resemble the model images?
  3. What works well (so far)?
  4. What needs to be improved?
Wrote by? Pull-quotes? Font size & colour? Folio? By-line? Standfirst?

400 words? 2 smaller images? Standfirst? Gutters? Folio? Page No.? Website?

Folio? Web address? Magazine title? Bottom of page?

400 Words? Page No.? Website? Standfirst? Pull-Quotes?


Looking pretty good. Not sure about the positioning of the pull-quote on the left though. Can it be nudged right amongst the text a little? Might not look great but worth a try. What about the magazine web address in the white space at the bottom of the page too? Perhaps a couple of bits of page furniture too; a trendy short but thick line at the end of the copy or something similar?

You now have TWO weeks to complete your final double-page spread submission. This includes replacing Lorem Ipsum for original copy (you are assessed on the register you use; does it address the needs of your target audience?). You must also place images in all of your placeholders. Make sure you check your page against the list of requirements before handing in your final submission via Google Classroom.

You Owe Me!

 


All missing work must be completed by Monday 9th November. Failure to meet this deadline will result in the use of a Sixth Form Workplan (following a meeting with parents).

2nd Nov: My Magazine Front Cover Model

SMART START

How are women represented in the Kiss of the Vampire film poster?

Key terms you must use in your response;

  1. Represented
  2. Dress code
  3. Sexualised
  4. Gesture code
  5. Stereotypical / Stereotype
  6. Role Model
  7. Co-antagonist
  8. Damsel in distress
  9. Patriarchy (Patriarchal Society) / Matriarchy (Matriarchal Society)
Elements of the theoretical framework that you should reference;
  1. David Gauntlett's Identify Theory
  2. Liesbet Van Zoonen's Feminist Theory
  3. Bell hooks' Feminist Theory
Additional Challenge: See if you can incorporate the following elements of our theoretical framework;

    1. Claude Levi-Strauss' Structuralist Theory
    2. Stuart Hall's Theory of Representation
    3. Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory
    I will present the KOTV film poster on the board, so the only tab you need open is your Google Document. Anyone found 'cheating' will be given an alternative question, a piece of paper and a pen (you've been warned).


    MODEL

    Here is a my magazine front cover model, showing how you can construct a simple front cover in about 30 minutes using a main image, some smaller images and a variety of fonts, font sizes and colours. In this case, the photography is original too.


    Just noticed I missed the cover price off. Doh! Imagine there's another text element just above the masthead that says £5.99 (or could have placed it by the barcode). Sorry! I've added it to the final export...


    Questions to ask yourself once you have constructed a magazine cover;
    1. Does it include all the required elements? (This is where I picked up my mistake!)
    2. Does the layout reflect magazine conventions?
    3. Are the proportional sizes of elements appropriate?
    4. Have you used a variety of fonts and font sizes?
    5. If there a recognisable house style?
    6. Does it look authentic? Could you imagine it on the shelf in WHSmith?
    Now we will provide peer-feedback on each of your magazine covers, considering each of these questions in turn. The feedback will be recorded. 

    You will then be asked to provide a grade using the following criteria;

    Meets the Requirements of the Brief

    1-2 : Includes only a small number of the brief requirements
    2-3 : Includes the majority of brief requirements
    3-4 : Includes all of the brief requirements but the layout is inappropriate
    5-6 : Includes all of the brief requirements and the layout is mostly appropriate
    7-8 : Includes all of the brief requirements and the layout is appropriate but the product lacks authenticity
    9-10 : Includes all of the brief requirements and the layout is totally convincing as an authentic product

    The Use of Media Language to Construct Meaning

    2 marks : The main image used is well-selected, well-framed and likely to attract an audience
    2 marks : There is a variety of font sizes and colours that represent the importance of articles within
    2 marks : The proportions of elements is appropriate, manipulating the audience's attention appropriately
    2 marks : Smaller images are well-selected, well-framed and likely to attract an audience
    2 marks : The strapline provides an appropriate clue as to the contents of the magazine and is likely to attrack an audience

    This will give you a total mark out of 20 for your magazine cover.


    After reviewing the feedback and grades you received, you will have one week to refine your magazine cover before next week's final submission.

    Here is a reminder of the NEA requirements;



    If you did not submit a draft submission of your magazine cover, you have today's lesson to complete it. You may use a stock images.

    13th October:

    SMART START

    How does Late Night Women's Hour support and/or challenge Curran and Seaton's Power and Media Industries Theory?

    Answer on a Google Doc and submit via our Google Classroom.

    REVIEW

    Please go back and review last week's Smart Start submission. Make changes to your answer, reflecting the feedback you were given.

    LEARNING CHECK

    Then complete this simple quiz, repeating it until you achieve 10/10.

    NEA

    Your magazine front covers are due today. You should now have submitted all of your NEA print products. Let's take a look...

    6th October: NEA Submission

    First things first... please make sure you have submitted your double-page spread. 

    SMART START

    Complete a Google Document for this smart start and submit via our Google Classroom.

    1. How does this print advert reinforce the conventions of other adverts from the 1950s?
    2. Review this advert with regard to Structualist Theory.
    3. Review this advert with regard to Identity Theory.
    4. Does this print advert reinforce or challenge the feminist theories we have studied?
    NEA Review (Double-Page Spread)

    Let's check your submissions against the requirements. As a group, we will then ask the following questions;
    1. Does the double-page spread look authentic?
    2. Have all the requirements been met?
    Here is a reminder of the requirements to each piece of NEA:




    Late Night Woman's Hour Revisited

    We will go through the fact sheet and the pages from the revision guides to make sure that we've covered everything. Find your post from early April (Late Night Woman's Hour) and add clarification and any further information.

    Resources



    AS Revision Guide, Pages 86 - 89

    A2 Revision Guide, Pages 108 & 109


    Remote Learning
    1. Make sure that you have read, understood and made notes about Late Night Woman's Hour. Your Smart Start question will probably be about LNWH next week!
    2. Complete and submit your next NEA submission (Magazine Front Cover).

    I'm back!

     I will be returning to school for your lesson next Tuesday (Hooray!). Please bring in evidence of your NEA work so far as I need to see where you are. Evidence could be printouts, screenshots on your blog, exported products... whatever.

    I look forward to seeing your work.

    8th September: Welcome Back

     Morning, welcome back! I'm afraid I can't be with you this morning. At this very moment, I am in hospital under the knife! However, you have variety of tasks you can engage with;

    • Make sure all 'lockdown learning' tasks are completed.
    • Continue with your NEA coursework.
    • Use the resources on the blog to revise all the media theories you should know, in preparation for a forthcoming test!
    I won't be in school for a couple of weeks, certainly not next week, so if you wish to stay at home next Tuesday to continue with NEA on your own computer, please feel free.

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