Tuesday, 20 April 2021

Michael's second year revision lesson no. 2


 

You have a choice of two questions for this revision lesson! But what I recommend is completing one in class, and then completing the other for revision at home. Either Riptide or Formation will 'come up' in the second assessment (26th/27th April), so make sure you're prepared for both!

I would also recommend completing the Formation question in class, because it would benefit more from discussion with your classmates!

And remember you can find an index of all the Media Focus YouTube videos by clicking here!

Wait, what am I doing?

Pick one question (if in doubt, pick the representation question, it's better for in-class discussion) and plan and begin to write a response using underline, knee-jerk, plan, DAC and PEA. 

Representation

Watch the trailer to the third series of the gangster/crime drama Top Boy (click here for link)

Compare how media language constructs representations in the trailer to series three of Top Boy and the video to Formation by BeyoncĂ© 

Make reference to

  • How representations make claims about reality
  • The role of stereotypes (positive and negative)
  • How representations may position audiences
BIG HINT: Hopefully you've got that you'll be talking about the representation of working class black people, and stereotypes are important here! But even if a media product draws attention to big issues, what is the effect of cultivating negative stereotypes?  

Media language

Watch the first two minutes of the video to Everlong by Foo Fighters (click here for link)

Compare how media language creates meaning in the first two minutes to the video to Everlong by Foo Fighters, and the video to Riptide by Vance Joy. 

Make reference to 

  • How intertextuality constructs meaning
  • The use of polysemy
  • How media language positions audiences
BIG HINT: If you write 'both videos are proper weird' then you will get zero marks. So instead pick out the elements which make these videos weird, using the textual analysis toolkit. Then have a little think. What is the purpose of a music video? What is the purpose of any media product? Can Curran and Seaton help you...?