Component one section A
Total time allowed: fifty-four minutes
You are advised to spend thirty minutes answering the questions in section A, and the remaining 24 minutes answering section B.
1 – Media language
Question 1 is based on the theatrical poster for the 1963 film From Russia With Love
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1. Explore how media language in the theatrical poster to From Russia With Love constructs meanings. [15]
Component one section B
2-1 Briefly explain what is meant by digital convergence [2]
2-2 Briefly explain what is meant by vertical integration [2]
3-1 In what ways can newspapers target and construct their audiences? Make reference to The Daily Mirror to support your answer [10]
3-2 In what ways can audiences actively engage with videogames? Make reference to the Assassin's Creed franchise to support your answer [10]
Feedback and analysis
This raises a big issue in A-level media studies: the so-called ‘common sense’ answer. Writing something like “The mise-en-scene of Bond’s tuxedo suggests he is powerful” is not really pushing the envelope in terms of analysis. The reason for this is that anyone could write this. You could turn up to the first media lesson, learn that ‘mise-en-scene refers to everything in the shot’, then just completely ditch the course for two years and write the same sentence. We know suits mean power, and we also know that suits are typically worn by men.
So how to surprise the examiner? Well, why not link it to genre? Here’s how to add some meat to the bones of that statement:
“The mise-en-scene of Bond’s tuxedo is connotative of power, and functions as a proairetic code, suggesting that not only does Bond, the protagonist have agency, he will also be actively driving the narrative of this film. Audiences will be able to recognise the genre codes of both the action and the spy genres, and, through the process of intertextual relay, constructs a relatable and recognisable mode of address. Furthermore, the iconography of a powerful man reinforces and cultivates hegemonic expectations of patriarchal hegemonic roles for the target audience. By ensuring that the film reinforces dominant ideological perspectives, the producers will be able to minimise risk and maximise the profit potential of this new and exciting film. ”
