1.
Essay
Question

2.
Aims
 To examine mark scheme for section B
 To apply understanding of representation of
youth to a past exam question.

3.
Explanation / analysis / argument
(16-20 marks)
 Candidates adapt their learning to the specific
requirements of the chosen question in excellent
fashion and make connections in order to
present a coherent argument.
 The answer offers a clear, fluent balance of
media theories and knowledge of industries and
texts and informed personal engagement with
issues and debates.

4.
Use of examples (16-20 marks)
 Examples of contemporary texts and industry
knowledge are clearly connected together in
the answer.
 History and the future are integrated into the
discussion with conviction.

5.
Use of terminology (8-10 marks)
 Throughout the answer, material presented is
informed by media theory and the command of
the appropriate conceptual and theoretical
language is excellent.

6.
June 2011
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]

7.
What is the question asking?
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]
 In other words, how does the media
(film/press/broadcast news/social media) create
representations of youth/young people.

8.
Where to start?
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the construction of collective
identity. [50]
1. Write a brief plan.
2. State your argument (e.g. Media representations of young people are
often very negative. Demonisation of youth)
 Link your argument to a relevant theorist (Mass
media construct
representations of youth from a middle class, adult
perspective, for the ideological purpose of maintaining
hegemony – Gramsci. Also David Gauntlett – identity is not
‘given’ but are constructed and negotiated)
3. Introduce the texts you will be focusing on.
1. Quadrophenia/Clockwork Orange, newspaper/broadcast news during
London riots, social media and Plan B.

9.
What next?
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]
1. Historical representations – Quadrophenia and
Clockwork Orange
2. Discuss how these films constructed representation of
youth identity. Give specific examples.
3. Link to theory, Stan Cohen – Moral Panics, deviance
amplification by the media

10.
How do I link to contemporary
texts?
 It could be argued that the media still demonises
young people today and creates moral panics
as exemplified by my recent research of
newspapers.
 The demonsiation of young people is still evident
today. During last years London riots the mass
media fuelled this negative portrayal of young
people. For example…
 Moral panics are still evident today. The London
riots is an example of the media creating a
panic about young people….

11.
How would I use my own
research into riots?
 When you offer your own examples of
construction of youth identity don’t forget to
state which bulletin/newspaper you are
discussing and the date it was
published/broadcast.
 Be specific with your examples and discuss how
that text constructs the identity of young people.
 Could link in the ideas of Gramsci (hegemony)
and Foucault (discourse and power).

12.
What next?
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]
 Were youths given space within the discourse of the
media to construct a positive identity?
 Could use stats to show the ages of those in court.
 Give examples of construction of positive representation
of youth identity.

13.
What next?
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]
 Can the role played by the media in the construction of
identity ever be resisted or challenged?
 Offer specific examples to illustrate your argument.
 Clean up, not in my name campaign, supporting MET police
Facebook page, 99% campaign
 Foucault and Gramsci

14.
The media constructs identity to
a certain extent however….
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]
 Discuss specific examples of how social media could
perhaps challenge the demonisation of young people
by the mass media.
 Could link in David Gauntlett and also David
Buckingham.

15.
Plan B
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the
construction of collective identity. [50]
 Time4planb campaign
 Wants the media to offer a fairer representation of
young people and give them hope for the future (link to
possible reasons for London riots)
 Song and video for iLL Manors challenges/fuels
collective identity? Give specific examples from both his
music video, lyrics and also his statement on his website.

16.
Future?
 7 Explain the role played by the media in the construction of
collective identity. [50]
 Has the role the media plays in the construction of identity
changed over time?
 Could younger creators of the media have a role in offering a
fairer, more truthful representation of young people today?
 Has social media empowered youth to have a voice within
the media?
• Could it be argued that social media has
limited impact compared to mass
media?

17.
Finally
 Link all ideas/theory together.
 Summarise how far you think media plays a role in constructing
identity of young people.
 Could continuous negative portrayals of young people can
have a damaging impact on young people in society?
 Could end by linking to Gauntlett and his idea that identity can
be negotiated and consider the future of youth identity.
 Or consider Mikhail Bakhtin who stated that ‘individual people
cannot be finalised, completely understood, known, or labelled. He
saw identity as the ‘unfinalised self’, meaning a person is never fully
revealed or known.’

18.
June 2011
7 Explain the role played
by the media in the
construction of collective
identity. [50]
Essay to be submitted
Monday 26th March 2012