Coursework brief for submission in 2024

Regulations

•  You must complete an individual cross-media production, applying your knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, media industries, audiences). 
• Unassessed participants may act in, or appear in the media production, or operate lighting, sound, recording and other equipment under your direction if required. 

“The cross-media production must be conceptualised as a complete package of interrelated products in two forms, reflecting the nature of the contemporary media and the importance of different platforms in distributing, and enabling audiences to access, the media”

Project brief

• A cross-media production for a new artist or band in a popular genre (or sub-genre/ hybrid) of your choice. 
• Create an original music video and associated print material to promote the same artist or band. 
• You should create a cross-media production for a major record label such as Polydor or Epic Records, owned by a major conglomerate, and targeting a mainstream audience of 16-25 year olds
• You must create a convincing brand identity for a new artist that appeals to your designated target audience

Task one - Create an original music video to promote your new artist or band

Length: 3 minutes - 3 minutes 30 seconds.

The music video must construct representations of at least one social group and include the following: 

• Two or more filming locations appropriate to the chosen popular genre. These might include a studio, rehearsal or live performance setting, and other locations to establish the narrative 

• A wide range of camera shots, angles and movement 

• A range of shots of the artist or band to establish a clear image/ identity 

• Performance footage (rehearsal and/or live and/or lip synched appropriate to the chosen popular genre) 

• Clear structure with an element of narrative (such as conflict, resolution or character types) to visually interpret the lyrics 

• Editing of original footage to the music track 

• Graphics depicting the name of the fictional artist or band and title of the track 

Task two - create a front cover and double page feature article for a new entertainment magazine to promote your artist or band to the target audience

Length: 3 pages.

Your print production must construct representations of at least one social group and include at least 5 original images in total. 

Front cover: 

• Original title and masthead for the magazine; strapline 

• Cover price and barcode 

• Main cover image of the band or artist to establish their identity (original and different from the images on the double page article); 

• Main cover line relating to the artist or band plus at least 2 further cover lines 

Double page feature article, (or extract from a longer article), approximately 300 words, including: 

• Headline and stand-first, sub-headings, column layout appropriate to the entertainment magazine genre 

• Details of the latest single release/ availability of the music video 

• An interview with the artist or band discussing the ideas in the music and the process of making the music video

• Explicit details of when the artist’s new single/album is being released and in what format(s)

• One main image and additional smaller/ minor images (all original and different from the images on the cover); these may include photographs of the artist/s on the music video set, but ‘stills’ from the music video must not be used 

• At least one pull-quote; links to the artist or band’s website and social media channels 

How to get an A in the music video coursework

Use media language to demonstrate intertextuality and/or generic hybridity

Convey a complex representation of a social group using media language

Subvert and challenge typical representational stereotypes

Present an ideological context typical to a major music label

Create a magazine that demonstrates clear stylistic, thematic and ideological links to your music video

 

How to get an A in the music video coursework

Start shooting the first day you are able

If someone lets you down, deal with it and shoot someone else

If your venue falls through or your location shoot is rained off, shoot somewhere else

If you accidentally delete all your work, take a deep breath and start again

If your teacher tells you your footage is not up to standard, take a deep breath and go out and reshoot

Aims and intentions 2023 and exemplars

This post is for students who started their coursework in 2023, and will graduate in 2024

What is aims and intentions?

• The aims and intentions essay is a short, one page, 500 word essay
• In it, you explain what you aim to do, how you intend to do it, and how you will meet the brief of the project
• You will use evidence from your research in to music videos and the music industry that you carried out in your production workbook. If you haven't done much of your production workbook, you will have some issues in completing your aims and intentions
• This essay is to be written in the future tense. For example: I SHALL use a rapid fire montage of close up shots to engage the audience, or I WILL make intertextual reference to the horror genre through the iconography of knives, blood and fangs
• 500 words is not enough to write a normal essay. Therefore, you will be using lots of bullet points to cut down the number of words you write. It is completely fine to use LOTS of bullet points!
• In exam board exemplars, every band 5 Aims and intentions essay was at least 550 words, so don't panic about the word count too much. 580 is definitely too much though.
• You will be marked on your accurate use of media language, and your knowledge of representation, industry and target audience
• You will also make reference to appropriate theories. Good ones to use are Barthes, Levi-Strauss, and, depending on your video, various theories of representation 

What was the brief again?

Here is the 2023/4 brief to remind you of what you were asked to make and what you are being marked on:

• A cross-media production for a new artist or band in a popular genre (or sub-genre/ hybrid) of your choice. 
• Create an original music video and associated print material to promote the same artist or band. 
• You should create a cross-media production for a major record label such as Polydor or Epic Records, owned by a major conglomerate, and targeting a mainstream audience of 16-25 year olds
• You must create a convincing brand identity for a new artist that appeals to your designated target audience

Cross media production means your music video AND your magazine. The two must link together!

Digital convergence refers to how digital technology can bring together separate media industries. So for example, your music video could and should be hosted on Youtuber and other streaming services, which means it can be accessed 

You can find the full brief, including details for the magazine unit by clicking here

What do I need to include?

The exam board have provided detailed information, which was provided in your production workbook. But here it is again. Use these bullet points as headings in your aims an intentions! Remember, the aims and intentions essay can use headings an bullet points as you please!

Use evidence from your research into: similar products; the industry context; your target audience, as well as theoretical perspectives, to explain your decisions:

• How and why will you use media language in your cross-media production? 
• How and why will you construct representations of individuals, groups and issues/events? 
• How will you target your intended audience?
• How will your production conform to its industry context?
• How will your cross-media production demonstrate digital convergence?

Cross media production means your music video AND your magazine. The two must link together!

Digital convergence refers to how digital technology can bring together separate media industries. So for example, your music video could and should be hosted on Youtuber and other streaming services, which means it can be accessed 

Haven't I done this already?

If you have completed the whole of your production workbook, then yes, the five slides labelled 'aims and intentions' are your aims and intentions. Just copy and paste. However, I'm not sure many people got that far.

How long will this take?

Honestly? Half an hour to an hour for the first draft. It's short and straightforward, and as long as you have done the research, there won't be an issue. If you have been filling out the workbook, you may have already done it, so just copy and paste it in to a Google doc on your Drive.

What does a good one look like? 

Here are a few examples. Please keep in mind, these are from previous years, when the specification was different. So please make reference to the brief you have been set

Example one

Within my music video, it is my intention to use narrative and performance to convey themes of depression, loneliness and the idea of having to put up a happy front around other people. 

Within my video, there will be –

• Varied editing pace to fit in with the slow beat of the song.
• A range of shot types, such as close ups and establishing shots.
• A subtle but interesting narrative, most of the lyrics taken literally and the shots matching with the lyrics.
• Yellow typography uses intertextuality of Quentin Tarantino films such as ‘Jackie Brown’ and ‘Pulp Fiction’. Use of blood and gore to also link to Tarantino films.
• Using mainly natural light to convey a sense of realism and to convey the sad and dull atmosphere, some shots have brightly coloured lighting.
• Colour scheme to show a contrast between interior settings and exterior settings. Interior setting will have a green tinted, dull, vintage camera effect. The exterior shots will have a bright, saturated effect.

In my music video I will be representing young people/teenagers who deal with mental health issues such as depression. I will do this by creating a binary opposition between the shots filmed inside versus the shots filmed outside. The inside shots will show the real emotion with dull, low-key lighting and the use of mise en scene such as blood and broken TVs. To contrast, the outside shots will be saturated and colourful, being filmed on a fisheye camera to represent other people. The inside shots are to represent when the artist is alone and being true to her emotions and the outside shots are to represent how people act happy around other people even when they’re not feeling that way. Some of the inspiration for this type of mise en scene such as the blood from the eyes came from scenes from Uma Thurman, creating even more intertextuality with Quentin Tarantino films.

I will appeal to my target audience of teenagers, especially those who struggle with mental health issues, since the actor is a teenager and represents some of the reality of what it’s like to deal with those issues. Mental health is a big and important discussion among young people and teenagers so i will play into that target them specifically. 

My video will conform to industry standards in the sense that it will include both narrative and performance elements and will include stereotypical elements of an indie music video such as slow paced editing and vintage mise en scene. However, my music video will subvert from industry standards by only featuring one person throughout the music video. 

I will use cross-media production to demonstrate digital convergence by creating a magazine front cover and a double page spread. I want to crest visual interest using mise en scene such as unusual costumes and props. The interview will be a very open and down to earth one, talking about things such as the artists experiences with mental health issues to link to my music video content. The photos will reflect the individuality of the artist to conform to the convention that celebrities are fashion toward and unique individuals. 

Example two

In my music video I will attempt to incorporate a complex narrative and performance, which includes key themes of depression, death, delinquency and identity.

I aim to conform to the industry standards by including these elements of a stereotypical alternative gothic song, which confronts / protests important social issues, such as mental health, as well as producing a memorable and unique video that attracts attention.

I will be including a male actor as the main subject present throughout the music video, tasked with instrumental syncing and posing for unique unsettling shots. The main subject is a white middle classed European teenager, who is inspired through 80s and 90s Gothic culture, with the representation of him being a stereotypical young adult being altered as the setting and performance changes, which represents the drastic emotions young adults face in current times, such as mental health, suicide, identity, morality and stress.

Here are some key techniques, focuses and ideologies that I will implement:

• Mixture of both close up and mid shots to convey the emotions of the artist.
• Colour grading of film to represent different emotions, such as blue symbolising depression / greyscale representing death.
• Hard cuts and ECUs to keep audience's attention and to make audiences feel unsettled / disturbed.
• Multiple film locations which represent different emotions, death and depression in the graveyard, distress and madness in the garden.
• Foreign narrative to inject the emotions of confusion and darkness into the audience's mind.
• Colour schemes that conform to the Gothic genre, with an vintage video overlay which represents the 80s / 90s Gothic culture.

Lots of the inspiration for my ideas came from analysing the music videos "Forgiveness" by Alice Glass and "Kasvetli Kutlma" by SPA, both include seemingly unrelated and unique shots, which created an overall mood of unease and darkness. I was fascinated with the idea of film appearing like it was recorded on a vintage VHS recorder, with the distorted effect connotating the emotion of confusion young adults face in modern times.

I believe that my product will appeal strongly to a young adult audience, as the cast included are shown to be stereotypical of a young adult. The alternative melancholy music and blunt dark themes both play into current teenage culture, where mental health and identity are large topics of discussion.

I will demonstrate cross-media digital convergence by producing a magazine front cover and double page spread, which will promote my video, as well as focusing on the themes presented and the artists themselves. I will use this opportunity to promote my artist and I plan to create a featured article that explores the artist's past experiences with the issues represented within my music video. 

I will encode the themes and ideologies referenced above in my magazine, through the use of the mise-en-scene, costumes will conform to the Gothic stereotype, dressing actors in black clothing to represent depressed emotion. 

I will be using media language to challenge / reinforce perceptions of stereotypes surrounding mental health and Gothic culture, referencing Stuart Hall's representation theory.

Example three

In my music video, I intend to use close-up camera shots of the character’s faces to display to the audience the emotions of the characters they are all portraying in the narrative. For example there will be the following close-up shots:

• angry and heartbroken shot of the performer
• shot of the character who has been cheating looking guilty
• shot where the character who is having the affair looks at her love interest and mouths 'I love you'
• several shots of the performer and his ‘girlfriend’ laughing and smiling together 
• beat-matched shots
• video interprets the lyrics as the song is about infidelity and the narrative mirrors this
• In the magazine there will be simple, yet effective close-up shots of the artist and long shots to show the artist’s costume. The costume and location for the magazine photoshoot will be reserved, to a certain extent, to reflect the artist’s selling point of being relatable, however they will certainly show that the artist is a star and the centre of attention in the photos. 

·      Performance and action scenes will be mid shots

·      Setting scenes will be long shots

Colour scheme will not be too bright, as it will fit the mood of the song and the narrative. Predominantly:

• Whites as a background so artist stands out in shot
• Black and white shots of artist lip-syncing to suit the darker mood of narrative and song
• Saturated and vibrant greens to emphasise ‘present day’ shots
• Faded, brown tinged shots to emphasise ‘past’ shots
• The artist’s costume in the video will be one to set him apart from the other characters (for example in the argument scene the performer’s costume is brighter than the girlfriend’s), however nothing too out-there, as the artist needs to remain relatable to the target audience. 

The social group I will be representing will be young, working-class men and this is shown by:

• relatable, inexpensive and not extravagant costume to fit group stereotype
• locations such as garages for backgrounds of scenes 
• no focus on hair and make-up for the artist, as it’s not typically associated with group stereotype

I intend to target this audience by:

• Using a song by an indie/rock artist, because this is a genre typically enjoyed by the social group in question
• Topic of the song - infidelity - is something understood and often experienced by people especially in this age group so is relatable for audience
• Colour scheme not being anything too bright and quite dark in places, because young people could be put off a music video if it is so colourful, as it may appear childish - damaging artist credibility

The music video production will conform to its industry context, because it

• is approx. 3 minutes 15 seconds in length, which falls between the 3 minutes and 3 and a half minutes expected of the typical music video 
• has fast-paced editing to transition between scenes and shots 
• has a variety of locations 
• has an element of artist performance
• follows a narrative that is not complex and will be easy to follow

The music video will be consumed by an audience who will watch it on their mobile phones, TVs and computer devices, therefore this is digital convergence. This is evidence of the film industry combining itself with digital technology for the consumption purposes of its audience, e.g. if the video is streamed through YouTube.  

I will also display digital convergence through:

• the music video and magazine both being edited digitally using online platforms, tools and software 
• in my magazine article, I will include the social media handles of the artist, so that fans can engage with the artist digitally
• a link to the magazine's website for further reader-artist(s) engagement and interaction

Open evening materials 2023

Course description presentation

Music video show reel

KA4 exemplar

You can find two student exemplar papers below. Both papers are absolutely excellent and we would like to thank the students in question for kindly volunteering to have their anonymised work hosted on the blog.

While this is a mock exam, and has therefore been completed, marked and standardised in a different way to the final exams, we have determined that both of these papers are at least of 'A' grade standard. They will be very useful for students who wish to visualise what a truly excellent response actually looks like.

These exemplar responses were completed for the 2023 KA4 exam, which can be found archived here, along with mark scheme and feedback

Exemplar 1 (49/65)

Exemplar 2 (61/65)

KA4 AKA the end of year mock exam: questions, feedback, mark scheme

KA4 is also known as the end of first year mock exam, for obvious reasons. It's a good opportunity to show off your hard work and ability to revise. This mock exam was marked exactly as a final exam would be marked. So while you will not get advanced notification of subjects or a focused pre-exam revision session, your marks, bands and overall grade will give you a pretty good indication of where you are up to at the moment. We will certainly improve on this grade for the final exam, as long as you respond to feedback and continue revising to a high standard. 

The exam

1 – Advertising and representation – 30 marks/60m

Compare how audiences are positioned in the Super.Human advertisement you have studied and the Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2014 print advertisement you have been provided with. 

In your answer you should:

• consider how the representations construct versions of reality.

• consider the similarities and differences in how audiences are positioned by the representations.

• make judgements and draw conclusions about how far the representations relate to relevant media contexts [30]

2 – Newspaper audience – 10 marks/10m 

Explore the ways in which the newspaper industry uses digital technologies to meet the needs of its audiences. Refer to The Daily Mirror to support your answer [10]

3 – Film industry – 10 marks/10m

Explore how economic factors shape the production and distribution of films. Refer to I, Daniel Blake to support your answer [10]

4 – magazine media language (woman magazine) – 15 marks/25m

Discuss the influence of historical context on representations in the set edition of Woman magazine. [15]

TOTAL: 1h45m

Simplified mark scheme

This is a simplified, yet accurate version of the mark scheme that the examiner who marks your final exam. It's worth noting that examiners will never 'grade' your work. Grade boundaries change every year, and are decided after everything has been marked, based on a number of factors.

However, examiners DO allocate 'bands' . Bands never change: the description for what is a band 3 is the same as it was in 2019, and it will always be the same until the specification is updated. Most students tend to get an upper band 2, a band 3 or a lower band 4. Band 1 and band 5 allocations are comparatively rare.

Band 5 - Excellent response that goes significantly beyond what would normally be expected of an A-level media studies student. At this level there are sophisticated arguments, and it is clear that the student has extensively read around the subject, for example reading a newspaper every day and reading the work of theorists and products beyond the set texts. This student presents perceptive and insightful conclusions. Reference will be detailed and always accurate (unless it's a little mistake that doesn't matter). Band 5 responses will flow and will demonstrate an ability to link concepts in a sophisticated manner, eg "The thumbnail preview that invites audiences to engage with Sugg's most recent video is not only typical of vlogs as a genre; it also demonstrates the binary dichotomy that exists between the construct of her reality as a 'cosy' and approachable media influencer, and the naked capitalist principals that exist behind her industry. Audiences must negotiate this hyperreal simulacrum, and must ultimately hold two thoughts simultaneously in their heads; one where Sugg is a benevolent and relatable neo-housewife archetype, and one where she is a mercenary neoliberal businesswoman. This lack of a semblance of clear interpretation is key to understanding the concept of the collapse of meaning that lies at the heart of postmodern theory."

Q1 - 25-30/30

Q2 - 9-10/10

Q3 - 9-10/10

Q4 - 13-15/15

Band 4 - These are GOOD. These responses are accurate, with a clear knowledge and understanding, with a logical, clear analysis. Theories may well be accurately and logically applied. There will be a reasonably detailed knowledge of concepts such as representation that tend to go beyond the basics (eg ‘representations reflect deep seated prejudices that exist within our world, and always reflect the hegemonic norms that exist in society’). Additionally, the use of facts and examples will be clear, accurate and relevant, for example "as is typical of an independent feature film, I, Daniel Blake is funded by a number of different producers including Film 4, the BBC and The National Lottery".

Q1 - 19-24/30

Q2 - 7-8/10

Q3 - 7-8/10

Q4 - 10-11/15

Band 3 - Satisfactory! This one is bang in the middle and is the easiest to assign. Band 3 answers do everything right, but not particularly well. Theories may well be used, but in a fairly straightforward way, and may not always be appropriate to the question, for example using mainly industry theory in a representation response. Knowledge and understanding is generally accurate. Knowledge of concepts such as representation and industry are reasonable but straightforward. There will be some relevant reference to the set product, and it will be straightforward (eg the bright colours symbolically encode a bright and inviting atmosphere). For industry questions, facts will be woolly and more generalised, for example "I Daniel Blake is shot in Newcastle, which gives it a low budget feel"

Q1 - 13-18/30

Q2 - 5-6/10

Q3 - 5-6/10

Q4 - 7-9/15

Band 2 - Basic knowledge and understanding. Analysis is there but may be inaccurate, for example not knowing the difference between camera angles and shot types along with other significant and clear gaps in knowledge. Basic considerations of concepts such as representation with clearly little understanding. Arguments and judgements beginning to emerge but lack confidence and/or reference to explicit and relevant examples. For example "Woman magazine has a picture of a woman wearing makeup on the front, which some women might think is being sexist."

Q1 - 7-12/30

Q2 - 3-4/10

Q3 - 3-4/10

Q4 - 4-6/15

Band 1 - Absolutely minimal knowledge and understanding. Likely to focus on a single case study where more would be appropriate, lacking media language, and lacking any judgement, argument or conclusion 

Q1 - 1-6/30

Q2 - 1-2/10

Q3 - 1-2/10

Q4 - 1-3/15

Band zero - Where a student hasn’t written anything or nearly enough to justify a mark. This also includes answers that are 100% incorrect, for example 'superhuman is a website about fashion' or something

Indicative content - or 'what you could have written'

General feedback

• Use the language of the question to get marks. The first question is a representation question regarding audience positioning. therefore, it would be advantageous (if a little inelegant) for each paragraph to start with something like "One striking representation that is used in the D&G advert is of hegemonically attractive women, which ultimately positions the audience as a heterosexual man..." or something similar
• Many answers lacked sustained reference to media language (usually abbreviated to ML on your feedback). This is, by and large the most simple way to get marks. Please make sure that every media language and representation question uses reference to shot types, camera angles, MES, editing, colour, diegesis, editing... whatever! If you are not using these words, you are probably not getting marks

Q1 - General

• The bit about 'relevant media contexts' may have stumped you. What this means is issues, events, problems and 'stuff going on' related to these adverts. This might include, but is definitely not limited to - sexism - racism - stereotyping - body image - class - high end fashion vs high street fashion - the purpose of advertising - audience manipulation - the UK government - the UK response to COVID - the Paralympics vs the Olympics - being disabled in the UK today
• The main crux of the question is related to audience positioning. Audience positioning is how the audience have been 'placed' by the producer. The example I always use is (literally) any James Bond Film. Bond runs around killing lots of people and generally being awful. But we know we are supposed to like him. This is because we have been expertly positioned with him. He is physically attractive, he is consistently in (almost) every scene, he is constructed through CUs and MSs, and he is diametrically opposed to the 'ugly' villains. We are also positioned AS HIM. We as an audience are positioned as a heterosexual, posh British man who solves problems through violence. Even if we are, for example a gay, disabled middle class Nigerian man, we are still positioned as a heterosexual, posh British man. This is important, as it helps the producer to (often aggressively) reinforce and communicate their dominant ideological perspective!
• Across these two adverts, some of the ways in which the audience have been positioned is as - a heterosexual man - British - an outsider - a voyeur - as disabled - as able bodied - as supportive - as sympathetic

Q1 - Super.Human

• You can find some good suggestions for analysis here and here. 
• Audience positioning is complex and is facilitated through a diverse and challenging set of representations, and audiences are positioned in a highly relatable, yet also highly confrontational mode of address.
• Please remember the advert title is stylised as 'super.human', not superhuman, and certainly not superhumans. The full stop is there for a reason, presumably! 

Q1 - D&G print advert

• A highly stereotypical representation of hegemonically attractive men and women is constructed through media language
• The mid shot and the intimidating status of the models could position the target audience in an uncomfortable and challenging mode of address. This is typical of the address of luxury brands such as D&G
• The use of conventionally hegemonically attractive women in the foreground also position the audience through the assumption that they are heterosexual men, which conforms to Van-Zoonen's male gaze theory
• This positioning is further anchored through the intradiegetic gaze of the (working class) male model's gazing in wonder at the female models in the foreground. This not only sexualises the female models, but also cultivates a heteronormative ideological perspective
• Furthermore exclusively white representation cultivates ethnocentric ideological perspective that positions the audience as a white person 
• A stereotypical Italian representation is constructed through the symbolic codes of glamourous costumes and fresh local produce. This also constructs a binary opposition between tradition and modernity, old and new, which is fairly common in high end fashion adverts 
• A binary opposition is constructed between representations of working class and upper middle class people, which the intradiegetic gaze being fixated on the middle class luxury
• Models are all able bodied and hegemonically attractive, which cultivates hegemonic expectations of beauty

Q1 - general 

• A few students said things along the lines of 'a binary opposition is constructed between the two adverts'. This is not strictly true, in the the producers would likely be unaware of the other advert when producing their own. You can however point out that the two adverts are so different a binary opposition is constructed, or even that the advert to Super.Human seeks to diametrically oppose itself to the stereotypical representations seen in adverts like the Dolce and Gabbana one. This is a subtle criticism, I know, but I feel it is an important one!
• An introduction presenting a few facts about Super.Human really helped to open up band 4 right from the off
• A few students claimed that Super.Human was "realistic". This is wrong. No media product is realistic. The video is making claims about reality (great phrase to use), but it in no way resembles real life. My 40 minute bike ride in to college this morning was very exciting to me, but there was no mixed media, contrapuntal sound, rapid fire montage editing or anything. So, instead of saying "realistic", please say "constructs a relatable mode of address" or "constructs a reality where...". This point is REALLY REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT when accessing top grades in A-level media studies. As Baudrillard argues, nothing is real, not even reality. Especially not reality...

Q2 

• Digital technology here means reference to the website, to social media accounts, and to ways that audiences can interact and be positioned and addressed by these 'new' technologies
• However, you must include reasonably clear and explicit examples to push beyond a band 2 or 3
• Some students were REALLY helped by theory here. This really confirms how important theory is for these small questions. Uses and gratifications, as well as classics like Gerbner and Hall were particularly useful. Shirky and Jenkins would also be useful in talking about active audience engagement and fandom.
• The responses to this question were not as good as the  responses to Q1. Clearly we need to do some work on both audience and digital technologies!

Q3 

• Much better responses than Q2. The best responses basically reeled off a list of facts about IDBs production and distribution, including production companies and distribution channels
• Examples here must be explicit. Yes, it is correct that IDB was produced and funded by many different production companies, but how many? (one estimate is 72!). Who are a few of them? Why is this important in terms of production and distribution? 

Q4 

• Historical context here would refer to contemporary 60's sexist attitudes to women's lives and roles, vs an emergent strand of second wave feminism that challenged this. 
• However, Woman magazine in 1964 chooses to ignore not only the emergence of 2nd wave feminism, but also exciting developments in fashion, music, and sex.
• Arguably the producers of woman magazine present simple, straightforward and sexist representations to reinforce hegemonic ideological discourse and to reassert patriarchal values.
• Stronger answers will engage with this aspect using explicit examples from the set magazine pages in order to explore WHY representations of women are so reductive and simplistic
• The very best responses will consider how these constructions of reality not only present a manipulative force for the audience, but also how they would directly affect how women in the 1960s would have been treated
• Clearly there's a lot to consider here, and it's worth nothing that this is a component 2 question, which may explain why your mark is lower than you may have expected: expectations for this one are higher and there are more boxes to tick!

Grade boundaries

To work out your grade, just add up the four marks, and then check the total below! 

We used a slightly less generous version of the 2022 grade boundaries to come up with your grades. Please remember these change from year to year. Also, there are two exams (which are weighted differently despite being worth the same marks!) and of course coursework to be factored in too. Basically it's a broad estimation of your current progress. The bands included on your paper are far more important. 

A* - 81% - 52

A - 72% - 47

B - 60% - 39

C - 49% - 32

D - 37% - 24

E - 23% - 15