MEDIA STUDIES – A Level Component 1
Media Products, Industries and Audiences
2 hours 15 minutes
SECTION A: ANALYSING MEDIA LANGUAGE AND REPRESENTATION
Media Language
You will be allowed one minute to read Question 1.
The extract will be shown three times.
First viewing: watch the extract.
Second viewing: watch the extract and make notes.
You will then have five minutes to make further notes.
Third viewing: watch the extract and make final notes.
Once the third viewing has finished, you should answer Question 1.
1. Explore how this music video extract communicates meanings. [15]
Representation
Question 2 is based on the following:
• the print resource, a film poster for Vampire Academy (2014)
• the set film poster you have studied: Kiss of the Vampire (1963)
2. Compare how audiences may interpret the representations of gender in the film posters for Vampire Academy and Kiss of the Vampire. [30]
In your answer you must:
• consider the similarities and differences in how audiences may interpret gender representations
• make judgements and draw conclusions about how far audience interpretations of gender representations reflect historical contexts.
Yes, this is clearly not a film poster. It’s a DVD cover. If you do get a glaring error like this in the exam just roll with it!
SECTION B: UNDERSTANDING MEDIA INDUSTRIES AND AUDIENCES
3. (a) Briefly explain what is meant by conglomerate ownership. [2]
(b) Name one media conglomerate. [1]
(c) Explain the impact of economic contexts on the newspaper industry. Refer to the Daily Mirror to support your points. [10]
In Question 3(d) you will be rewarded for drawing together knowledge and understanding from across your full course of study, including different areas of the theoretical framework and media contexts.
(d) Explain the importance of digital convergence in the newspaper industry. Refer to The Times to support your points. [12]
4. (a) Explain how the advertising industry categorises audiences. Refer to the Wateraid advertisement you have studied to support your points. [8]
(b) Explain how media producers attract audiences. Refer to the Wateraid advertisement to support your points. [12]
MEDIA STUDIES – A Level Component 2
Media Forms and Products in Depth
2 hours 30 minutes
SECTION A – TELEVISION IN THE GLOBAL AGE
Answer one question in this section. Each question is in two parts.
Tick (√) the box to indicate the option chosen.
Option 1: Life on Mars and The Bridge
Option 2: Humans and The Returned
Option 3: The Jinx and No Burqas Behind Bars
Either,
Option 1: Life on Mars and The Bridge
1. (a) Explain Henry Jenkins’ theory of fandom. Refer to Life on Mars to support your response.
[15]
(b) Explore how representations in the set episode of The Bridge may position audiences.
[15]
Or,
Option 2: Humans and The Returned
2. (a) Explain Henry Jenkins’ theory of fandom. Refer to Humans to support your response. [15]
(b) Explore how representations in the set episode of The Returned may position audiences. [15]
Or,
Option 3: The Jinx and No Burqas Behind Bars
3. (a) Explain Henry Jenkins’ theory of fandom. Refer to The Jinx to support your response.
[15]
(b) Explore how representations in No Burqas Behind Bars may position audiences. [15]
SECTION B – MAGAZINES: MAINSTREAM AND ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
Answer one question in this section.
Tick (√) the box to indicate the option chosen.
Option 1: Woman and Adbusters
Option 2: Woman’s Realm and Huck
Option 3: Vogue and The Big Issue
Either,
Option 1: Woman and Adbusters
4. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of semiotic approaches to magazine analysis. Refer to Roland Barthes’ theory of semiotics and the set editions of Woman and Adbusters in your response. [30]
Or,
Option 2: Woman’s Realm and Huck
5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of semiotic approaches to magazine analysis.
Refer to Roland Barthes’ theory of semiotics and the set editions of Woman’s Realm and Huck in your response. [30]
Or,
Option 3: Vogue and The Big Issue
6. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of semiotic approaches to magazine analysis.
Refer to Roland Barthes’ theory of semiotics and the set editions of Vogue and The Big Issue in your response. [30]
SECTION C – MEDIA IN THE ONLINE AGE
Answer one question in this section.
Tick (√) the box to indicate the option chosen.
Option 1: PointlessBlog / Alfie Deyes and gal-dem
Option 2: Zoella / Zoe Sugg and Attitude
Either,
Option 1: PointlessBlog / Alfie Deyes and gal-dem
7. How much influence do economic factors have on online media products?
Refer to PointlessBlog / Alfie Deyes and gal-dem in your response. [30]
Or,