Mock revision

1. GCSE MEDIA
STUDIES
Revision for November
Mock Exam

2. Component Exam1 Overview
■ Length: 1hour 30 mins
■ Component 1: Exploring the media
■ Section A: Exploring media language
and representation
– You should aim to spend 55 mins out of
the 1hour 30mins on this section
– There are two questions
– Question 1 on media language: image,
layout & design, language (15 marks)
– Question 2 on representation:
■ 2a Explaining the social context of a
set text (5 marks),
■ 2b Comparing the representations in
one of the set text to an unseen text
(25 marks)

3. Component Exam1 Overview
cont.
■ Section B: Exploring Media Industries
and Audiences
– Two questions
– Question 3 Media Industries: Broken
up into 4 smaller questions a – d
focusing on issues such as regulation
and ownership of media. Questions a-
c (1-2 marks), Question d (12 marks)
– Question 4: Audiences: Broken up into
4 smaller questions a –d focusing on
target audiences and how media
products appeal to their audiences –
normally includes references to uses
and gratifications theory. Questions
a-c (1-4 marks),Question d (12 marks)

4. SectionA: Exploring media
language and representation –
Question 1
■ Question 1: Media language asks you
to analyse three areas:
■ image, layout & design, language
– Each part is worth 5 marks out of a
total of 15 marks.
– To achieve all 15 marks you much
remember to use Denotation and
Connotation when analysing the
text.
– For every denotation write the
connotation. Aim to write 3
denotations/connotations for each
area.

5. Section A: Exploring media
language and representation
- Question 2a
■ Question 2 a: representation asks you to
explain how the social context of one of
the set text affects the representations
present.
– You will need to consider how the
representation in the set text has been
constructed and what social influences
will have affected the representation
created – so how did the time in which
it was made and societies views on
gender or immigrants for example
affect how they are represented in the
text. You must make explicit
reference to the text to support your
explanation to achieve full marks.

6. Section A: Exploring media
language and representation -
Question 2b
■ Question 2b: representation asks you to
compare one of the set text to an unseen
text.
– This is worth 25 marks so requires a
detailed and extended (long) response
– You should aim to spend around 30 mins of
the exam on this question.
– When writing your comparison you will be
asked to consider the choices the
producers have made about how to
represent the people on the texts and also
to compare the similarities and
differences of the representations in the
two texts.
– Remember you should structure your
response as follows:
■ Start your paragraph with a topic sentence
■ Provide evidence/examples from the text
(image, camera framing, text) at least 3 of
these.
■ Link to wider context

7. Section B: Exploring Media
Industries and Audiences
■ Question 3 & 4 have simple questions
such as ‘which company owns…’,
‘name the organisation that
regulates…’, ‘name an audience for…’,
these are the 1-4 mark questions.
■ The higher mark questions ask you to
explain points such as ‘how does (text)
appeal to its audience?’This question
often asks you to refer to the ‘uses and
gratifications theory’. This has four
parts which are: identification,
education, social interaction and
entertainment. To achieve the full 12
marks for this question you will need to
refer to all 4 parts and apply them to
the text you are questioned on.

8. Revision
Section A:
Exploring Media
language and
representation

9. The GQ
masthead
stands for
‘Gentleman’s
Quarterly’ but
was rebranded
in 1967.
The house style (theme)
of the magazine links to
the traditional branding
and masculinity of the
magazine. This suggests
the selection process
has deliberately focused
on physical strength.
The
strapline
shows a
special issue
which makes
the magazine
more
desirable.
There is a
close up of
Dwayne
Johnson (the
cover star)
focusing with
an extreme
close up of his
bicep.
The red, black
and white
colour palette
is a symbol of
power.
Johnson uses direct mode of address which is a
common convention of magazines and creates a
relationship with the demographic. However he is
serious and unsmiling. This could suggest how
seriously he wants the demographic to take
themselves and their bodies.
The pseudonym ‘The Rock’ also has
connotations of strength and stability.
His actual name is smaller suggesting his
persona is more important.
Indicates that
the primary
demographic
are A-C1 on
the ACORN
system.
The cover line
suggests a
focus on
aesthetics and
body image. It
also
reinforces
consumerist
ideology.
The
magazine is
represented
as a ‘how to’
guide
A more
newsworthy
topic is
included at
the bottom
creating a
broader
demographic.
The cover lines
are designed to
create enigma
(Barthes’
codes)
The rock represents a role model for the
demographic to relate to and subverts
the stereotype of a black male actor as
he is now part of mainstream culture.
Johnson’s bicep
includes a
Brahma bull
tattoo linking
to the
typography
embellishment
and supporting
the hyper
masculine
representation.
‘Bankable star’
reinforces a
capitalist
ideology where
to be
successful as a
man you must
be wealthy.
Implies he is a role model to the
demographic.

10. Logo’s for the two supporting
charities included in the top left
frame - provides synergy between
causes.
Indirect mode of
address makes raises
enigma for the
audience.
Selective focus makes the central
woman more important but others are
identifiable which anchors the image in
a fitness class.
The typography
provides
contrast – serif
usually connotes
formality.
The language used is colloquial and
uses similes and satire to emphasise
female empowerment by subverting
the idea that it is un-ladylike to sweat
(historical context).
Logo acts as
brand
recognition but
is simple which
is unusual for
advertisements.
The female in
takes up the
majority of the
foreground and
is placed on
crash points to
draw attention.
She is also the
protagonist of
the advert and
could be
considered the
hero (Propp).
The overlapping
of the text
removes any
sexualised
representation.
Large image
of female
model
identifies
the primary
demographic
as females
aged 25-40
who are
likely to be
C1-D on the
ACORN
system and
the aspirers
category of
the 4Cs
theory.
Hashtag
provides
convergent
media and
suggests this
is part of a
larger
campaign
across TV,
YouTube and
other media
platforms.
Language, logo and
image all connote
determination and
a shift in society to
be healthier and
for women to
succeed.
The purpose of the
advert is to provide
social cohesion –
for women to come
together.
The ideology
is to
challenge
stereotypes
by including
all ‘girls’ to
get involved
and become
more
powerful.
High key lighting and colours match the facial expression of
the woman signifying she is having fun through the campaign.

11. Revision
Section B:
Exploring Media
Industries and
Audiences

12. BBFC Report on Spectre
VIOLENCE
There is a scene of torture, although there is only limited detail and the character in question is not seriously harmed.
There is also a brief moment of eye-gouging, with limited detail,
and a scene in which a man shoots himself in the head, although the bullet impact is not shown on screen.
There are a number of scenes of moderate action violence, including crunchy blows and shootings,
but these lack any focus on detail.
There is occasional sight of injuries resulting from violence, including cuts and grazes,
as well as sight of blood on faces, hands and clothing.
THREAT
There are a number of scenes in which characters are threatened or in danger, including some sustained chase sequences.
The film also contains scenes in which couples embrace, kiss and begin to undress,
although these scenes cut away before any sex is shown.
There are verbal references to various criminal activities, including the trafficking of women,
and some mild bad language ('bloody', 'bastard', 'shit', 'moron', 'asshole', 'Jesus', 'Christ', 'hell').
Originally this film was set to be classified as a 15 rating.The film was re-
edited to make it fit the 12A category. This was so the film would reach a
much wider audience as it could been seen by younger viewers too. The
change in age classification enabled the film to be seen by a much larger
audience and so increase its box office revenue. Bond is also a British
brand and household name so it was essential that in its home market of
the UK it could be seen by as many people as possible.This would then
enable the Bond franchise to grow its future audience.
Click on the link below to revise the difference between a 12 and 12A
certificates:
http://www.cbbfc.co.uk/12
British Board of Film
Classification

13. ■ British newspaper
■ Tabloid – more sensational and
celebrity stories
■ Owned by Rupert Murdoch under his
News Corp company
■ Biased towards the Conservative
Party
■ Aimed at a working class audience
■ 54% male readers
■ Two thirds of readers are over 35 years
old
■ Brexit voters
■ Social classes (C2,D,E

14. Keywords
■ Political bias
■ ( when a newspaper shows support for a
political party through its choice of stories).
■ Convergence
■ (the coming together of different media
platforms or industries e.g. the smartphone
allows the user to download and listen to
music, access the internet, play videos, play
games etc)
■ Interactivity
■ (the ways in which audiences can become
actively involved with a media text).
■ Social class
■ (The way in which the audience is categorised
in terms of education, occupation, income and
wealth)

15. What techniques does the
Sun use to appeal to readers
with low literacy skills?
■ Use of words in bold
■ More Images than text to give a
visual representation of the news
stories
■ Simplistic language
■ Short paragraphs of text

16. Uses and Gratifications
Key Area Explanation
Identification • Being able to recognise parts of yourself in what you are
seeing.
• Role models.
• Seeing others who reflect your values
Education • Being given information and knowledge.
Entertainment • We use media as a distraction from our daily lives
• We enjoy escapism to alternative ‘worlds’ or ‘stories’.
Social
Interaction
• Media can provide a spark for discussion.
• The media encourages the audience to get involved with
each other.
Consider whatThe Sun includes on its cover,
online and the contents that covers all 4
aspects of the ‘uses and gratifications theory’.