All posts by Dr McKinlay

Doctorate in Creative and Media Education. Head of Creative Technology Faculty, Hautlieu School, Jersey.

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Genre

Genre

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Another key theory (that could appear in a number of your exam questions) is genre. In particular, the board look at the genre theory developed Steve Neale.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is EAAC2AC8-E619-41B7-8539-7C8B55FB43B0.jpeg

Define each of the key terms highlighted in blue in the extract below and make sure you understand (ie you have a definition) of the following key terms:

• Conventions and rules
• Sub-genre
• Hybridity
• Genres of order and integration (Thomas Schatz)
• ‘Genre as cultural category’ (ie an expression of a social, cultural and historical moment; again Thomas Schatz writes about how genres change over time and are indicative of the time in which they were made and of which they are representative)

Answer the following questions:

  1. In what ways is ‘genre’ beneficial for transnational audiences?
  2. In what ways is ‘genre’ beneficial for transnational institutions?
Uncategorized

Tutorials

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I suggest you take a photo (of yourself or of your friend) and use some photo manipulation software to create a ‘games style’ character(s) that you can use in your magazine (either front cover – a striking image would work well) and/or in your other pages. The images below were processed in an AI editing software and are the sort of thing I am suggesting. Or, look at the photoshop tutorials below and have a go to see what effects you can take. Obviously you need original images to start off with.

Uncategorized

NEA

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MONTUESWEDSTHURSFRISATSUN
WEEK 1FeedbackDr MM awayINSET
WEEK 2
WEEK 3St Malo Photography trip (Dr M maybe away?)
WEEK 4SPORTS DAYDr MM HE TripDr MM HE TripDr MM HE Trip
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
WEEK 7PRINT OUTFINAL SUBMISSION!!
IN LESSONOUT OF LESSON
WedMake Plan and finish SoIComplete SoI
photos for my 3 ads
Thurrevisit planning document
test my photos with peers and teacher		research real mag ads for gaming
buy copy of gamin gmag
Frirecap photoshopSubmit 1st draft SoI
SatFinish my 1st ad
SunNOTHINGNOTHING
Monget feedback from class and MM FOR 1ST AD
TuesMs Magowan SoI lessonComplete 2nd ad
Wed
Thur
FriComplete 3rd AdSubmit Production 1 (all products in appropriate media form)

I am producing 2 media products for set brief 6. This is because I am very interested in news and current affairs and I am hoping to become a journalist when I leave school. I wanted to take up this brief because I found the theory of the liberal free press both very interesting and very confusing! In some ways I understand that there should be ‘freedom’ in the press, to both publish and produce new work, but I also think that in an age of new media, where we can access news and information at anytime from any source does mean that the notion of press freedom needs to be regulated in some way. I  hope that my NEA will help me to explore these issues.

It is really important that I have a target audience in mind, so the audience I am targeting will be teenagers who are just emerging as political voters, essentially they will be 16-18, educated to Key Stage 5 and looking to go on to university. In terms of Pyschographic profiling (Rubicam and Young), I am targeting, ‘succeeders’, ‘reformers’ and ‘aspirers’. In terms of uses and gratifications I am aiming to create products that provide information about the world that connects individuals, families and communities together through a greater awareness of social and political issues. Therefore, my aim is reconcile traditional media with a new form aimed at younger people. As I often read the Guardian and the Financial Times, so I will ensure that the style, tone and register of my web pages will reflect these professional products. For example, the Financial Times uses a lot of quantitative data often presented in graphic form and I will include this on my web pages. In terms of the audio production, I always listen to Radio 4, for example, The Today programme, so again my audio products will reflect the formal tone of this news broadcast.

I want to make both productions to be connected in terms of content and representation, so my audio will actually be the same as one of my main articles from the website, but will include the actual voices of the participants that I used for the article. I will also use consistent branding and iconography, such as the title and strapline to ensure iconic and indexical signs (C S Pierce) are consistent. As with the written articles on the blog, I will use a formal register of language.

Institution

The Culture Industry

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David Hesmondhalgh and other critical voices

HesmondhalghDownload

David Hesmondhalgh is among a range of academics who critically analyse the relationship between media work and the media industry. In his seminal book, The Culture Industries (Sage, 2019) he suggest that:

the distinctive organisational form of the cultural industries has considerable implications for the conditions under which symbolic creativity is carried out’

The Culture Industries (Sage, 2019, p.99)
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Blinded by the Light, Institution

Blinded by the Light

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In this section of your course we are going to study Film and Media Industries, using as a case study the film Blinded by the Light. Important aspects of this study is the production, distribution and exhibition of the film. Do you understand the meaning of the terms?

What is the difference between production, distribution, and exhibition?

a) Film production is the process of creating the content of the film

  • Development: Ideas for the film are created, rights to existing intellectual properties are purchased, etc., and the screenplay is written. Financing for the project is sought and obtained.
  • Pre-production: Arrangements and preparations are made for the shoot, such as hiring cast and film crew, selecting locations, and constructing sets.
  • Production: The raw footage and other elements of the film are recorded during the film shoot, including principal photography.
  • Post-production: The images, sound, and visual effects of the recorded film are edited and combined into a finished product.

b)distribution is the activities involved in getting the film to the public.

This is normally the task of a professional film distributor, who would determine the marketing and release strategy for the film, the media by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing and other matters.

What does exhibition mean in film?

A film exhibition is a process of showing a movie to the public. The film may be exhibited directly to the public either through a movie theater or television, or personal home viewing (including physical media, video-on-demand, download, television programs through broadcast syndication). For commercial projects, film distribution is usually accompanied by film promotion.

How does film distribution work?

Film distribution consists of working to place a movie in theaters, though it may also be distributed to streaming services. This stage of the filmmaking process includes collaborating with theatres and promoting the movie.

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Newspapers

Newspapers.

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This is a targeted CSP for which you will need to focus on the following areas of the theoretical framework:

  • Media Industries
  • Media Audiences

You will need to be familiar with the Daily Mail newspaper as an institution and have knowledge and understanding of the newspaper as a media product in terms of the relevant newspaper industry and audience issues it illustrates. In order to develop this knowledge and understanding, you should consider one complete print edition of the newspaper chosen by your teacher and selected key pages from the newspaper’s website, including the homepage and at least one other page as context for the role of newspapers in the contemporary media landscape.

The study of The Guardian newspaper entails knowledge and understanding of its institutional structure and strategies to target a national and global readership as well as its position within the newspaper industry. Students should be familiar with one complete print edition of the newspaper (chosen by the teacher) and selected key pages from the newspaper’s website including the homepage and at least one other page. The study of the digital presence of The Guardian is an important context for analysing the position of newspapers in the contemporary media landscape.

For more details, information and starting point, please look closely at your CSP booklet.

The CSP is from Wednesday 6th November 2024. I have 10 copies of each in the class, but you will save articles, quotes, ideas etc from the on-line version on the actual day itself.

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Semiotics

Semiotics

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For an A level you will need theory.

Theory helps us to understand what we do. So that what we do, we may do better. Theories are generally made up and around some key language this is REALLY IMPORTANT! You must show your KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF key language in your A level assessments if you want to score high marks.

Bioshock-Semiotics-assessment-and-feedback-templateDownload

NOTE: Paper 1, Question 1 and Paper 2 Question 1 both test your knowledge and understanding of SEMIOTICS.

Question1: What is Semiotics? Answer: Semiotics is the study of signs.

A theoretical approach to help you think about SIGNS which can help you to analyse (among other things) MEDIA PRODUCTS.

Question 2: What is a sign? Answer: . . . 🤔

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NEA

Practical (NEA) work

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30% of your A level grade will come from your coursework which is called a non-examined assessment (NEA). We don’t know what the set tasks will be yet – they will be released towards the end of your first year. But generally they are a cross-media production portfolio, which essentially means you produce 2 different media forms for the same product – so for example, you would produce both a magazine review (PRINT) and an opening sequence (FILM / TV) for a new drama (= the product). Or you produce 6 Instagram posts (NEW MEDIA) and a newspaper interview (PRINT) for a new green energy campaign (= the product) – note that these are all just hypothetical.

The good news is that I really, really like practical work and I believe that we can learn a lot about media (theory) ie your exam stuff by completing practical work. So, for example, we have been looking at theories of identity, the self and audience by producing our interviews.

Induction

For the induction I asked you to create a print product that follows the style, layout and conventions of a real media product. The brief was very wide (often the case with real media products!), so for your real NEA / coursework you are requested to write a STATEMENT OF INTENT which is a short piece of writing (400-500 words) which outlines what your intentions are ie what it is you are trying to achieve. You write this before you start your production.

As we didn’t do this for the summer task, I may need a bit of explanation from you about your intentions just to give me a better idea of what it was you were trying to do. We can do this in class when we look at all of our work as a ‘gallery’ exercise. We can also use this session to think about assessment – yep! Basically, how good is your work!?

To help I have emailed you back with an assessment sheet, asking you best guess where you think your assessment lies. Essentially, do you think your product is:

  • Excellent (level 5)
  • Good (level 4)
  • Satisfactory (level 3)
  • Basic (level 2)
  • Minimal (level 1)
  • Level 0 = 0 marks

Here is the assessment that I have sent out to everybody

A2-NEA-Print-Products-only-assessment-and-feedback-templateDownload

To build up confidence, knowledge, understanding and ability in terms of practical work we are now going to produce an interview following a style model from the Weekend FT magazine.

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Narrative, Theory

Narrative Theory

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For an A level you will need theory.

Theory helps us to understand what we do. So that what we do, we may do better. Theories are generally made up and around some key language this is REALLY IMPORTANT! You must show your KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF key language in your A level assessments if you want to score high marks.

Look for example at this assessment sheet for your narrative essay which clearly assesses your knowledge and understanding of narrative theory . .

A2-Music-Video-essay-NARRATIVE-assessment-and-feedbackDownload

Let’s start with some key language around NARRATIVE. Let’s start this one by you telling me (and everyone else) something you know about NARRATIVE / STORYTELLING THEORY. So, what do you know?

TASK: I suggest that you print out this list below. Annotate it to provide an AUDIT of WHAT YOU KNOW and WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW, (ie highlight it, or provide a brief description, or . . . ) and then stick it in your book.

Key Terminology (could be a Kahoot test!)

  1. Linear
  2. Chronological
  3. Sequential
  4. Circular structure
  5. Time based
  6. Narrative arc
  7. Freytag’s Pyramid
  8. exposition,
  9. inciting incident,
  10. rising action,
  11. climax,
  12. falling action,
  13. resolution,
  14. denouement 
  15. Beginning / middle / end
  16. Equilibrium
  17. Disruption
  18. Transgression – often disequilibrium is caused by societal / moral / ethical transgression (ie challenging Aristotelian virtues)
  19. New equilibrium
  20. Peripeteia
  21. Anagnoresis
  22. Catharsis
  23. The 3 Unities: Action, Time, Place
  24. flashback / flash forward
  25. Foreshadowing
  26. Ellipsis
  27. Pathos
  28. Empathy
  29. diegetic / non-diegetic
  30. slow motion
  31. In Media Res – starting in mid-action
  32. Metanarratives – drawing attention to the process of storytelling
  33. Quest narratives
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Instructions

Welcome to Media Studies MEDIA A LEVEL 2023-2025!

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A STORY

Welcome.
Welcome.
Welcome.

Are you ready to Play?
Are you happy to Play?
Then

Firstly,
Let us silence our magic Talismen
And place them thus . . .
In the Harness of Tranquility.
We will have no peace while they try to Torment us!

Many thanks.

So let us begin
and yes we have begun
with Three Welcomes!
Because (as we shall discover)
Three is a Magic Number!
And indeed,
this Welcome is divided into three parts:

An opening Salutation – to set the scene,
introducing setting, theme, characters, quest.

Secondly, the real action starts –
as characters interact, tension may rise!
Brains may boil!
Tongues will either wag wearily
or
they may dry up, like cement in the mouth!

Thirdly, last of all in our Final Act
The denouement plays out!
Each character plays out their performance
to the hesitant, nervous, waiting crowd.

This is a most important part of proceedings
And full respect and utmost attention
must be given
To those who hold the stage.

A word of caution at this point!
Hold back your judgement
Wait patiently in the wings.
Remember that we live lour lives moving forwards
But we understand ourselves looking back.
So hold judgement
And be wary.
It is Telios we seek
And Hubris we seek to avoid!

So let us begin
And welcome you to this:
the Chapel of Knowledge
And I,
your appointed priest.
I am a Seer, a Prophet, a poet and a Philosopher.
I am Michael.
In Ancient times it meant teacher or wise.

Now a welcome to you
and your crippling, agonising awkwardness which is
The Beginning.

Now,
Take a moment.
Be still.
Rest the whirling Furies trying to poison your mind.
Quell them with all your might.

Be at peace.

Breathe

And Breath (again).

Find an inner calm.

And embrace

Your fear
Your excitement
And your trepidation.

Embrace this new day
And assuage and reconcile your emotions.
As I must do mine,
So you should do yours.

So take just a little longer
another ‘moment’
Quell yourself.
Tame your emotions
To harness your actions.
As we cast off on our journey.

But what is this journey
For which you have anticipated?
What is your purpose?
What will be your tasks?

To make it easier for you to understand
I shall give it just one name
And that name is . . .
Story.

For what have we got
And what can we hope to get?
If anything at all . . .
It is the chance to tell our story.

And as you will be part of my story
(which starts right here and now)
So I will be part of yours.

And look around
At what you see
And who you see
Because (for better or for worse)
It has been ordered
By Destiny and Fate
that they also will be part of your story.

So expect to tell your stories
To make your Story.
And expect to be able to listen
and respond
to stories of Others.

Expect to reflect and think and evaluate.
Expect to be challenged.
Expect to be tested.
Expect to learn.
Expect Change.

If possible,
enter your expectations with courage and heart.
If possible, last the course,
Rise to the challenge
And leave with success, with pride
and above all,
the ability to tell a better story.

Any questions?

Once answered
Let us go to work.

Your first task
is to deposit your first task in this secret envelope
(that I will now pass around)
And if not today
then tomorrow.
But be warned – do not baulk this Task.
It is the first step in your journey
and judgement will be made!

Once done –
Gather around in groups of three
Because
Three is the Magic Number!
And get set to go to work.

(And here we are in the second Act)

The task is as follows:
Each one of the three must choose another,
But each of the three must only be chosen once.
Talk to them.
Talk to each other.
And be prepared
To tell their story.

If possible,
can it be told in verse?
If it is possible,
It is possible that you may have
the strength of Zeus
and/or the wisdom of Apollo
and/or the wit of Dionysus
To tell it well,
You will need all Three –
which as we know . . .
is the . . .

If not,
And you find yourself possessed by the Wild Furies
Devouring your whole being.
Then lay quiet and nothing will be expected of you . . .
Yet!

So go!
Children of Men
and set to work
You have 15 minutes to complete your task!

Any questions?

So be it!
The Sands of Cronos mark time
And in 15 minutes the final Act will begin
Our journey to the end!

Good luck!