A2 Easter Homework

Respond to the following #pomo question

• Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial

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Delve into the resources related to Q1a and Q1b.

Work on your evaluation.

You know where I am if you need me! :-)

AS Easter Homework

Please respond to the following exam question:

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

Additional resources:

Mind Map

Pete Fraser (Chief Examiner) Advice

A2: G324 Evaluation & G325 1a / 1b

What follows is info and links to support you in writing your coursework evaluation and beginning your preparation for Section A of the exam.

G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media (Evaluation)

Your evaluation requires you to respond to the following questions:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
2. How effective is the combination of your main and ancillary texts?
3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

This is to be presented electronically in one of the following forms:

• a presentation using slideshow software such as PowerPoint
• a blog or website
• a podcast
• a DVD with 'extras'

You may have noticed that there are less questions compared with your AS evaluation. However, the expected response to each of these questions should demonstrate a far more technical and detailed approach.

Useful Links:

What is evaluation?

An A* student's blog

Another A* student's blog

G325: Critical Perspectives in Media (1a / 1b)

Moreover, this is not your only chance to evaluate your coursework. You will also have a synoptic evaluation of your coursework in your final exam. This will be in essay format responding to two questions. You should spend 30 minutes on each one.

1a - You will be required to describe and evaluate your technical skills over the course of your production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. The focus is for you to reflect on and evaluate the way your skills have developed. You will be required to adapt your response to two of the following production practices:

• Digital Technology
• Creativity
• Research and Planning
• Post-production
• Using conventions from real media texts

1b - You will be required to select one production and evaluate it in relation to a media concept. The list of concepts are as follows:

• Genre
• Narrative
• Representation
• Audience
• Media Language

Useful Links:

Media Theory presentations 1, 2 and 3

Media Language - Huge Resource

More Media Theory

Approaching Question 1a

How to prepare for question 1b

How to do an exam answer

Responding to 1a

[AS] Useful Stuff!

We've been adding 'useful stuff' to this blog since 2006. I thought it might be pertinent to highlight some older posts that you might find useful as you add the finishing touches to your coursework, and begin your revision.

Semiotics - The Bad Colour

The use of colour in film

Anatomy of a Scene

Key Concepts and the Language of the Moving Image

Editing and Representation

TV Drama - Example Responses

A History of the Title Sequence

Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Title Sequences

Long Road Media

Media Studies Ringwood

AS: A&I Essay Planning

One of your peers emailed me unsure of how to get started with the Audiences and Institutions essay. If this particular student has questions, then I am sure that the rest of you do. So here is a copy of my reply:

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Have you used the mind map to plan the structure of your essay? My first question if I was doing this essay is which parts of the mind map are going to go into my essay.

So, read the question. What are the possible answers?

Well, some magazines have fully embraced the use of 'converged media'. Some have had to in order to keep up with audience needs and changing tech. Some have not.

Therefore, my arguments are:

• Argument 1: Yes, media convergence is important. 
• Argument 2: In fact it is now integral to success for some parts of the magazine industry. 
• Argument 3: But there are some magazines that do not yet need to adapt 

Now I have a plan I need to use my mind map to flesh this out.

Arg 1: Convergence

• Pg 1. What is it? Why is it important? What case study can I use to illustrate that? 
• Pg 2. Can I build on that? Is there another case study? Another quotation? 

Arg 2. Some mags have no choice? 

• Pg. 3: Audience expectations - location, time, multi-media content... quotation? case study? 
• Pg. 4: Keeping up with the competition. Quotation? Case study? 

Arg 3: Not important. 

• Pg. 5: People's Friend - importance of knowing your TA 

Now, surrounding this I need an intro and a conclusion. 

Intro: In a few sentences set out the arguments. Don't mention any specific case studies. Keep it general.

Conclusion: What is your opinion? What does the future for the industry hold in relation to technological convergence? Hypothesise.

I hope this helps?