Dirt sheet 1

Question 1 Reflection

- Gauntlett's theory applies to a sense of identity that a newspaper can offer its reader. E.g. The Guardian and hard-headed patriotic liberal. Daily Express show lots of celebrity gossip.

- Diverse and contradicted media messages 

- Both images show an empty podium at a press conference. It is significant because Boris Johnson was meant to be answering questions. 

- Daily express is Pro Boris Johnson and the Guardian is against Boris Johnson 

- The use of space in the image used against no space is due to the large text. The defensive text illustrates "tiny haven", "stage-managed", "anti-brexit", "no wonder" is childish language. 

- Gauntlett says that people use media to build self identities. 

Dirt sheet 3

ASSESSMENT Q3 NEWS LIAR

GBHS MEDIA STUDIES A LEVEL Reflection

Name:                                      Date:

AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media and contexts of media and their influence (5)

AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media to analyse media products (KU) of the theoretical framework of media to:

Analyse media products/ Make judgements and draw conclusions (10)

Q3 Technological advances have created a long term decline in the circulation of national newspapers. Explain how the newspaper industry has responded to these changes. Identify a strength or strengths in your assessment: -          I included multiple facts and figures in the write up of my answer, including the contrast between the daily mail and the guardian’s circulation (1 million: 100,000). I included the pricing of a DM newspaper copy (70p). -          I also discussed the use of social media and how it has changed the newspaper industry, creating a decline in sales. People would rather use social media, as it is faster, easy access, provides free info, most people use it. (there are lots of advantages).  What are the areas you need to improve? -          I should have included the use of a website for newspaper readers, whilst I only included social media – being a method to access the news. -          I could have illustrated the rise in paper copy prices for the Guardian. Rising to £2.20 only recently this year -          Examples of the different types of devices that can be used to access the news on social media or online (laptops, phones, tablets) -          Some websites have pay walls before you access the content you have to pay. Once you have, you are able to read their articles. What will you do to improve in your next assessment? Any particular areas or study skills? -          I will include more facts comparing the two newspapers -          State whether the newspaper is a donation based company or whether you can subscribe to the newspapers -          Consider ‘what type of advertising is on the Guardian website?’ – social media, Pinterest, snapchat, Facebook and twitter

Q 3

The content below is not prescriptive and all valid points should be credited. It is not expected that responses will include all of the points listed but once again a lot of you have failed to give specific web examples and ways the newspapers are adapting to these changes and the relationship with their audiences. 

AO1:2

Responses will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of contexts of media and their influence on media products and processes including:

·        Some have pay walls DT, Times

· explaining the economics of traditional and online editions of The Guardian and the Daily Mail newspapers (for example, paid for primarily by advertising based on audience number/ demographic as well as direct sales)

· showing the significance of these changes for traditional print editions and online editions and newspaper audiences (e.g. The Guardian focusing on its online content and seeking to develop a donation-based culture; the Mail moving slightly downmarket with clickbait stories hosted on MailOnline; both papers are still seeking to maintain their print editions although these are making a loss)

· explanation of technological convergence and/ or the proliferation of technology and the effect this has had on institutional process and audiences with reference to economic context (for example, The Guardian’s use of email to attract a regular audience; targeted advertising; the need for stories to be published online throughout the day as rolling news) GIVE SPECIFIC EGS

· explaining the economic effect of the decline of traditional print editions, for example, with reference to circulation and yearly sales figures of traditional print versions and the rise of online subscription (neither The Guardian nor the Mail currently operate a paywall, compared to some of their competitors, although there is some debate as to whether this model is sustainable) HOW DOES THE GUARDIAN ASK READERS FOR MONEY?

· explaining the economic implications of how newspapers are in competition for readers and how advertising revenue from the ‘new’ media is vital - GIVE EGS OF ADVERTISERS

· explaining the different platforms used by audiences to access news content from The Guardian and Daily Mail with reference to the growth in online readership (give some numbers) and the impact on how audiences consume news (use of specific social media, websites means many consumers no longer pay for news content). GIVE SPECIFIC EGS. 

Points that could have been made

Notes

The Guardian raised its price to £2.20

What kind of advertising on the Guardian website?

Social media DM flipbook, Pinterest, snapchat, twitter, Instagram, fb

Guardian subscribe or donate

DM 2013 – almost 4000 million 2018 just over 1 million newspaper sales

Dirt sheet 2

ASSESSMENT Q2 NEWS LIAR

GBHS MEDIA STUDIES A LEVEL Reflection

Name:                                      Date:

AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media and contexts of media and their influence (5)

AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework of media to analyse media products (KU) of the theoretical framework of media to:

Analyse media products/ Make judgements and draw conclusions (10)

Question: 2 How does media language incorporate viewpoints and ideologies in these front pages of the Guardian and he Daily Mail. Identify a strength or strengths in your assessment: -          In my assessment question I evaluated the ratio of images to text (heavy text regarding the Guardian). I also illustrated the informal language that had been used in The daily mail to discuss a ‘sex pest’ story. Overall my answer was clear and analysed the key points that were shown on the newspaper front covers. -          On the other hand, I noticed the size of the fonts, the difference in colour and the hard and soft news used in both newspapers – how they differ. What are the areas you need to improve? -          When analysing the informal words used, I could have taken it further and said that the newspaper made it look as though the Jagger and sex pest stories were linked – due to the layout of words and images. -          Another point that I could have expanded was the target audience that the daily mail was addressing (C1, c2, c3) – remember not to get mixed up with the other newspapers and letters ‘ABC’. What will you do to improve in your next assessment? Any particular areas or study skills? -          Mention political leanings/ideology -          Analyse further, expanding the points found -          Cover all areas of CLIFT (colour, layout, images, font, typography) -          Think about PEAL as I am writing my answer (Point, example, analyse, link)

Q2 Points that could have been made

·         Differences in colour

·         Ratio of image to text – text heavy Guardian

·         Hard/soft news – Guardian three hard news stories all politics one international story

·         Formal/informal language

·         Guardian left leaning / Daily Mail

·         Close up head shots of DM old and aggressive Jagger, innocent young under SEX PESTS ideology of celebrity gossip and hyperbolic informal language

·         Daily Mail C1 C2 C3/ Guardian A B C

·         Alliteration language, saturated colour schemes

·         Size of fonts and capital letters DM

Exam Q

·          “Music videos reflect the social and cultural context in which they were made” Discuss this statement through a comparison of the two music videos you have studied. One mv from list A (CBR) and one from list B (DG)
 

 CBR's track 'stop where you are' shows an urban London setting, revealing some cultural contexts in a negative light, stereotyping people's perceptions and the backgrounds they are from. CBR aims to present the people and how bad behaviour can inflict on people, making them feel like they aren't good enough or that people will automatically look down on them. As an audience we see isolated people that show pain or suffering, suggesting they have been pushed out of society; disregarded for being homeless, mentally ill, violent, for their sexuality or appearing like they are a member of a gang. The music video shows that despite someone’s background, you shouldn’t be judgemental, and the lyrics clearly represent the idea that an appearance, age or ethnicity doesn’t determine who you are as a person. We see her interreact with the characters in the music video, which suggests that whilst she may be of a higher class, she can reach out and help those who need it. CBR symbolises a wealthy woman; she is dressed in a bright red dress alongside heels – despite being in a warehouse, not typically a scene for well-dressed people. Red signifies pain but also love. Therefore, the dress can show that she carries the pain and embraces the moment she is in. She aims to show hope within the loss in a society that can be negative at times. 

In the music video there is a key shot that presents a close-up levelled shot of man covered in tattoos. The tattoos are the first thing that the audience see due to the fact that the camera shot has been blurred. This is to symbolise the lack of understanding in society; that despite the man’s qualities and characteristics, the first impression people have on him are the negative connotations with tattoos. Staging the shot this way makes it apparent that people can have perceptions before knowing a person. The representation of the character can show the young man as naïve or stupid because of his age, for the reason that teenagers can have the stereotype of being immature or careless – not thinking about their long-term future plans. On the other hand, the ink on his body could connotate to the idea that the needles create pain when you get a tattoo. So, if the man is in physiological pain then creating a psychical numbness will balance it out. He is seen on the edge of society by being placed in an environment that isn’t cared for – suggesting he isn’t either.   

In contrast, the ‘Titanium’ music video presents a boy with supernatural powers who is overwhelmed and constantly under pressure to escape from reality and people that fear his strength. The lack of knowledge and open-minded people has created a wedge in between him and the rest of society, making him isolated from everyone else. Which in a way, in similar to the way society has turned away from homeless people, teenagers or those portrayed as less important. The themes shown are inner strength, adults vs. children, standing up for what you believe in – as well as super natural and power. In a key shot it presents the boy running away from his school in the local town, to his house. It is positioned as a long shot, low angled whilst tracking in towards his house – directing the shot from a low angle from afar shows how small the boy is in comparison to the house. Connotations show that the size difference and what he is up against, contrasting with the powers and strength he has. His body language suggests fear through a slouched and fast speed pace – signifying his urgency to escape.

The cultural contexts show an American setting with large houses and policemen that have guns. Although other states and countries use guns, it is known for America’s society to use them regularly and sometimes for unjust reasons. Using this shows the differences in cultures and how they haven’t tried communicating better considering the person being targeted is a young boy. Context shows how guns and shooting is normalised in America and presenting these themes feels scary when watching the music video – the director wants to give us an insight as to the kind of day-to-day behaviour that occurs. He is frightened, alone and there is no sign of his parents, which makes the audience feel sorry for him as his emotions are made clear through the camera angles and fast movement used. He also appears small against human nature in the scene where he is walking through the woods alone. The camera shot is an extreme long shot which emphasises the size difference to show how he is also been pushed to the edge of society. Similarly, to show CBR presents the characters in her music video. 
 

In conclusion, both music videos clearly exemplify the themes of disregarding people and how we should be kinder to one another. It shows the lack of understanding of society and the supernatural/things we aren’t used to seeing. The idea is that by creating the videos in the way they are, shows the negative things that happen in the world, in the areas that it happens in, and how you should embrace who you are, where you are from and what you look like. Overall the director’s aim is to show that children shouldn’t feel like they have to escape from a young age. They should be doing the things they enjoy, playing with teddies (referring to titanium) and being around people (referring to stop where you are). People should also be given the chance to show who they are without perceptions being made being knowing a person (referring to homeless or tattooed people, teenagers, or those that stand out amongst a crowd). Society should make changes and that is the overall message.

SCREENGRABS

Titanium

Titanium 

Notes:

- A song by a French DJ and music producer David Guetta, vocals by Sia 

- Written by: Sia, David Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort and Afrojack 

- Initially released on August 8th 2011

- Katy Perry was going to feature in the song, however she opted out as she thought the song was too similar to her song Firework

- Music video directed by David Wilson 

Overall message: 

Not to let something affect you, if someone tries to hurt you be strong and defend yourself.

Themes: 

Supernatural, powers, puberty affecting the body and mind, inner strength, adults vs. children, standing up for what you think is right.

DISTINCT:

Setting - school, home, street, forest - American neighbourhood 

- Messy and empty house suggesting parents have left the boy and he is alone. 

FAM and CLAMPS: 

- A levelled low angled close up of a boy crouching on the floor, burying his head which signifies he is scared and vulnerable - sitting tightly could suggest that he thinks nothing will hurt him because he cannot see anything and he is trying to protect himself. 

- Long low angled shot tracking in shows how small the boy is compared to the house, suggests what he is up against (in size). Him running outlines his fear and him desperately trying to get out of the situation. He is unaware of how strong his powers are and what he is capable of. 

- Close up low levelled angle tracking backwards of the boy on the bike. The boy isn't in the snap shot because it links to how fast the bike is going - shows how desperate he is to escape. 

- The end scene is the same as the first (book end narrative), suggesting his is still alone towards the end… The low levelled close up of him crouching, links to the first shot (circular structure). 

- Levelled shot, he throws the teddy bear away to show he's leaving behind his childhood - he has to grow up and mature in order to defend himself. 

- Vulnerable long shot - woods between the trees 

Context:

The Director is influenced by 80s films, despite not living in the time period. 

Sound and editing:

G genre - pop

I instruments - guitar, drums 

L lyrics - strength, power 

E emotion - defending yourself 

S screen time - actor is always on the screen, main role/spotlight 

T transitions - we follow the boy where he goes - signifies the journey we watch him go through 

O order of narrative - school, street, home, forest ...

P pace - starts slow paced, gets faster to show the tensity - slow shots at the beginning to show the emotion (fear) - unpredictable

S sfx

Stop Where You Are

Stop Where You Are 

Corinne Bailey Rae (CBR)

Notes and Analysis 

- April 2016 the song was produced 

- 2006 CBR was a rising star with her hit 'Put your records on'

- Specialises in pop music, a British singer from Leeds

- 2008 her husband died of an accidental overdose. After this she struggled massively with coping with her husband's passing. Therefore, she disappeared and released her newest song in 2016. 

- The song encourages people to live in the present and embrace the moments you're in. 

- Urban London 

- Diversity is shown through gender, age, ethnicity and class

Themes:

Class:
- Businessman
- Homeless and less fortunate people
- Poor and lonely, desperate

Gender: 
- Male and female shown in similar situations which suggests that everyone is in the same boat and there are men and women that are sometimes forced into homelessness when it isn't their fault.

Age:
- Younger generation - teenagers wearing a hoodie, which suggests they can be threatening because you can't see their face
- Gang-Like look because they're wearing a leather jacket or tattoos covering their skin
- Troubled adults

Ethnicity: 
- Black people
- Mixed race
- White
- Asian

How is the artist represented? 
- CBR is showing that a bad situation can be made positive and turned around. People shouldn't take things for advantage and appreciate the opportunities they are presented with.
- Her dress is bright red; the colour symbolises pain or love - so the dress suggests the pain she carries around with her, relating to her past love experiences. Which as we know, is what happened when her recent husband died of an accidental drug overdose. Not only does it present the pain and the past she is carrying, but how she embraces the moment she is in. She aims to show hope amongst the loss.
Lyrics; 'stop where you are' means that you shouldn't judge things from the outside. See people for who they are, not what they look like/age/background. Take notice of what is going on.
- The heels and posh dress shows that despite her high class, she can reach out and help people who she doesn't know or aren't as fortunate. Everyone should be treated the same.

Camera shot - shot of teenager

F - long shot
A - side angle of her body
M - tracking in

C - stereotypical teenager: hoodie
L - bright lighting, goes from low key to high key
A -
M - natural/no makeup: suggests her look means she's treated better than the homeless people
P -
S - warehouse, concrete = cold, dark and gloomy setting

Camera shot - blurred shot of man with tattoos 

- Blur shot shows that society have a lack of understanding because he is covered in tattoos and the audience question the life they have led

Definition
Androgynous - unsure if someone is masculine or feminine

FAM - five key shots
- Tracking in low levelled shot of CBR walking introducing the setting - in her heels (prestigious shoes contrast with the setting)
- Low level shot, full body shot of the business man looking down on the homeless woman which shows that as an audience we shouldn't judge and discriminate people
- Close up, low angled static picture. Blurred shot to show the lack of understanding in society. You can see the tattoos first - people have perceptions before knowing a person.
- Low angled mid shot which shows a young boy looking as though he's going to jump off the building, switching to a full body shot of him doing a black flip.
- High angle moving shot of the homeless women trying to attack the man. We look down on people on the floor if they are homeless (physically and mentally).
- Levelled close up of homeless women and business guy. Side shot of the women and the business man, however the women is in focus and the man is blurred out. It shows that at this moment the women is more important. Subverting: we don't expect him to treat her kindly - as they have contrasting lives.
- Close up levelled face close up shot with the sun shining through her. The light acts as a halo - making her look angelic.
- Over the shoulder shot from behind his back. Hooded, scary representation of the character.

This is America

This is America 

 Connotations and denotations: 
- The violence is deliberately used to shock the audience
- Black stereotypes of shooting and the fact that America still allow guns within their law regulations
- Lyrics 'black man' and 'go get your money' is used to show that black people should be more privileged than they are and are treated. There is a history of racism and how they were treated in the past. Some people of America still contain the same views.
- The video shows disruption being caused by the American actor 
- The smiles an exaggerated poses of the guy show that the problems aren't confronted or approached; due to fear or lack of acknowledgement. The issues are disregarded.
- Guns vs. black lives = suggest that black people's lives do not matter because they are often shot with no remorse shown
- Context is significant because 9 people were shot in a church - therefore the man shoots the black choir in the video to show a key moment in American history. 

Camera shots used:
- Tracking in&out shot
- Tracking side-to-side shot
- Medium boy shot
- Long shot
- Close up shot

Backgrounds: 
- Garage
- Choir/Church

Costume: 
- Children's uniform
- Main character wears trousers and shoes

Music videos:
- Videos are used to promote artists - their music and for the fan base
- Shows development of artist
- Artists given the most screen time
- Performance = presence/story line

Bullying Campaign

Energy Drinks Analysis

Shelter Exam Question

Shelter Exam Question

Analyse how social and cultural contexts can influence advertising. Use figure 3 to support your answer. 450 words 

In the shelter advert, the social and cultural contexts are shown through the statistics and imagery in the print copy. For instance, the typography stated on the bottom half of the advert shows three different stories of people that were in unfortunate positions – which shows diversity in people’s lives and backgrounds. The facts are used to shock the audience; showing that the target audience isn’t children. The quotation ‘We can help.’ is strong and confident which gives people hope that they aren’t alone – regardless of their current predicament, there are people that want to help and solve their problems. In today’s society advertising influences and shapes people’s opinions on topics that are presented to the public. The audience sympathise and feel empathy towards the people in the advert. Presenting the advert with pain and hurt allows the audience to view it in this way and feel these emotions. Using red coloured text across the victim’s faces shows the struggle because we as an audience symbolise red with anger, ache and upset; red in their eyes may suggest blood shot eyes which is also a result to someone feeling disconnected and lost.

As an audience, people have become desensitised to charity adverts, such as this one. Therefore, the harsh realities have been shown through dramatic and blank expressions in the faces. They look tired, expressionless and pale. This is for the reason that if the audience see pain or inhumane things, we are more likely to react and try and reach out to help people. The main target for this advert are adults – more specifically, caring people – because they are the kinds of people to have an understanding of debt or fear of losing homes at that age.

They have used a rhetorical question in the first image, as well as strong built, bold writing which effects the reader because they question themselves. ‘But where will we live’ gives the impression that the audience has a responsibility in assisting others – to do ‘their bit’ or all they can for the charity. Without funding and charity supporters, people wouldn’t be cared for. As a result, it has a strong message that we are all equal and should try and make a difference – despite some being strangers.

Social contexts can influence advertising in the way that facts and statistics make the advert even more real and life-like. In 2017 to 2018 56,580 households were classified as homeless. This number of households being homeless has decreased by 4% over the last year. Which suggests that charities such as the Shelter and others similar have made a different to the number – ensured there is help for homeless people to get their lives back. This is a result of the effective advertisement created. Making adverts equal (gender, race, class etc.) creates a more positive print copy for the audience and more appealing to help – showing that everyone is the same and can be going through the same thing. Which is also shown in the Shelter advert, presenting different ages and genders across the three images.