OCR specification

OCR specification

Representation

•the way the media through representation construct versions of reality

•the processes which lead media producers to make choices about how to represent events, issues, individuals and social groups

•the effect of social and cultural context on representations

•how media representations convey values, attitudes and beliefs about the world and how these may be systematically reinforced across a wide range of media representations

•how audiences respond to and interpret media representations.

Social and cultural contexts

•how the media products studied differ in institutional backgrounds and use of media language to create meaning and construct representations to reach different audiences, and can act as a means of:

–  reflecting social, cultural and political attitudes towards wider issues and beliefs

–  constructing social, cultural and political attitudes towards wider issues and beliefs

•how media products studied can act as a means of reflecting historical issues and events

•how media products studied can potentially be an agent in facilitating social, cultural and political developments through the use of media language to construct meaning through viewpoints, messages and values and representations of events and issues

•how media products studied are influenced by social, cultural, political and historical contexts through intertextual references

Advertising and Media spec

•Learners need to study the set advertising and marketing products in relation to all the subject content bullet points listed under the ‘media language’ and ‘media representations’ topics in the subject content table at the end of this component.

•Theories of media language and representation do not need to be studied.

•Learners should investigate how the elements of the theoretical framework for media language are used to construct representations that appeal to particular audiences, including a consideration of the influence of social and cultural contexts. Consideration should be made of media language elements specific to posters and moving image trailers such as locations, costumes, choice of camera shot, angle, lighting, typography, layout, editing and sound as appropriate.

NOTE.  Most of the media language analysis has been covered during previous lessons

The main focus will now be on how media language is used to construct representations.

•The Big Issue is a niche magazine outside the commercial mainstream that learners may not normally engage with and provides a contrasting example of how the elements of the theoretical framework for media language can be used to construct alternative representations that appeal to particular audiences, including a consideration of the influence of the social, cultural and political contexts.

•Learners must study two front covers of The Big Issue, from the September of the first year of teaching a one year course, (e.g. from September 2018 onwards for a candidate entering for assessment in June 2019), chosen by the centre. The front covers selected should demonstrate representations that are alternative to the mainstream and of national significance, in terms of the events or issues they portray.

•Learners need to study the magazine products in relation the ‘media language’ and ‘media representations’

•Consideration should be made of media language elements specific to magazines such as locations, costumes, props, makeup, lighting, choice of camera shot, angle, typography, layout and address of written content to the audience.

OCR Specification:

•Radio must be studied in relation to media industries and media audiences, including a consideration of the economic, political and cultural contexts that influence the radio industry and its audiences.

•The Radio One Breakfast Show is currently the most listened to ‘show’ on Radio One and forms part of Radio One’s overall public service broadcasting (PSB) remit to ‘entertain, educate and inform’ and is required to demonstrate a ‘distinctive’ output of content compared to commercial radio.

•Learners must study one complete episode of The BBC Radio One Breakfast Show, from September 2017 onwards, chosen by the centre.

Learners should consider the significance of public service broadcasting and how the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show fits into the overarching ethos of ‘informing, educating and entertaining’, including

•the ‘distinctiveness’ of the content of the program compared to commercial breakfast shows

•An analysis of which audience(s) are being targeted and why.

•The influence of funding should also be considered in relation to content, production, marketing and distribution

•there should also be a consideration of technology, for example the use of technology to distribute the show across a number of platforms other than ‘traditional’ radio.

OCR Spec.

•Music Video: Billie Jean (Michael Jackson, Thriller 1982), US and Million Reasons (Lady Gaga, Joanne 2016), US

•Music videos must be studied in relation to media language and media representations, including a consideration of the historical, social and cultural contexts that influence how media language is used to construct representations.

•Consideration should be made of media language elements specific to music videos such as camera shots, angles, lighting, settings, locations, costumes, props, makeup, editing and sound as appropriate.

•Billie Jean is an example of a historically significant music video. The video was one of the very first videos on MTV to feature a black artist and be aired on regular rotation by the channel. The video’s immense popularity helped bring MTV into the mainstream and breakthrough racial barriers on TV networks and helped propel the album ‘Thriller’ to the bestselling album of all time.

•Million Reasons is a contrasting example of a contemporary music video from a world famous, white, female artist. This particular video (from the album Joanne) marks a change in direction for the artist as media producers make use of media language to construct representations that might attract a broader, more mainstream market whilst not alienating the artist’s core fan base.