A2 MEDIAG325 - Critical Perspectives

Today’s Lesson

By the end of the lesson you will:

• be able to describe the basic requirements of the G325 Critical Perspectives unit and summer exam.

• Have completed a detailed lesson plan for a Q1(a) exam question on research and planning.

The Critical Perspectives Exam – 2 hrs

Section A:Theoretical Evaluation of

Production

Q1(a)25 marks

Q1(b)25 marks

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues

Media in the Online Age

50 marks

Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production

Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production

Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development over the course of your production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. It will require you to adapt this to one or two specific areas from the following:

• Digital Technology• Research and planning• Post-production• Using conventions from real media texts• Creativity

Q1(a) - What does the Chief Examiner say this question is about?

Q1(a) Past questions

Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production

Question 1(b) requires you to select one production (main task or ancillary) and evaluate it in relation to a media concept that could be any of the following:

• Genre• Narrative• Representation• Audience• Media language

Q1(b) - What does the Chief Examiner say this question is about?

Q1(b) Past questions

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues - Media in the Online Age

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues

Media in the Online Age You are required to answer one question (out of a choice of two) on the contemporary issues and debates surrounding different forms of media in the online age.

You will use case study examples as well as media theory to support your answer.

Media in the Online Age Past questions

• "For media audiences, the internet has changed everything." Discuss.

• Explain the extent to which online media exist alongside older methods of distribution in 2010.

• How important to change in the media is the idea of convergence? Refer to at least two media in your answer.

• "The impact of the internet on the media is revolutionary." Discuss.

• Discuss the extent to which the distribution and consumption of media have been transformed by the internet.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your ______ ___________.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate ___ of your media products in relation to a media _______.

• Section B requires you to use ____ _____ examples and media theory to support your answer about different forms of _____ __ ___ ______ ___.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate ___ of your media products in relation to a media _______.

• Section B requires you to use ____ _____ examples and media theory to support your answer about different forms of _____ __ ___ ______ ___.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate one of your media products in relation to a media concept.

• Section B requires you to use ____ _____ examples and media theory to support your answer about different forms of _____ __ ___ ______ ___.

Just to check you’ve been paying attention...

• Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development.

• Question 1 (b) requires you to evaluate one of your media products in relation to a media concept.

• Section B requires you to use case study examples and media theory to support your answer about different forms of media in the online age.

First part of the lesson complete! …now can you find the bird?

Research and PlanningIn groups of 3 use post-it notes to write down as many things as you can remember doing as part of the research and planning for your A2 production work. One thing per post-it.

Research and PlanningNow divide these Post-it notes into those that you think come under research and those that you think come under planning.

ResearchResearch refers to looking at real media and also audiences to inform your thinking about a media production.

• Institutional research (company info, billing block, etc.)

• Research into conventions of media texts (layout, fonts, camera shots, soundtracks, everything!)

• Audience research (before you made your products and after you finished for feedback),

• You can also consider logistical research - recce shots of your locations, research into costume, actors, etc

PlanningPlanning refers to all the creative and logistical thinking and all the organisation and record keeping that goes on in putting the production together so that everything works.

• For example, writing a synopsis, creating shot lists, storyboards, animatics, filming schedules, carrying out risk assessments, etc.

• Also, don't forget everything you planned as part of the above to achieve continuity!

Research and Planning• Now try to add some more Post-its to

each section.

Research and PlanningResearch involves both primary and secondary research.

• What is Primary research?• What is Secondary research?

• Can you further divide your research into primary and secondary? (label with ‘P’ or ‘S’)

Research and Planning

• Access your blogs and look back at what skills you said you had at the end of AS. Have you improved any of your skills in research and planning?

• Is this demonstrated in the work you produced?

Research and Planning• Go back to the creativity definitions you wrote.

• Has your research and planning enabled you to be more creative? Or has it restricted your creativity? Discuss in pairs

• Write down two examples of where research helped you make creative decisions.

• Write down two examples of where research helped you make creative decisions.

Research and Planning

Working individually, write a detailed essay plan for the following exam question:

Q: Describe how you developed research and planning skills for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how these skills developed over time.

Research and PlanningParagraph 1 should be an introduction which explains which projects you did. It can be quite short.

Paragraph 2 should pick up the skill area and perhaps suggest something about your starting point with it- what skills did you have already and how were these illustrated. Use an example.

Paragraph 3 should talk through your use of that skill in early projects and what you learned and developed through these. Again there should be examples to support all that you say.

Paragraph 4 should go on to demonstrate how the skill developed in later projects, again backed by examples, and reflecting back on how this represents moves forward for you from your early position and how the development of these skills enabled you to be more creative.

Paragraph 5 short conclusion