G322 - Audiences and Institutions

Section B: Institutions and Audiences

 

One compulsory question to be answered by candidates based upon a case study of a specific media industry, from a choice of six topic areas offered by OCR.

Centres should choose one of the following topic areas, in advance of the examination. Through specific case studies of the centre’s choice, candidates should be prepared to demonstrate understanding of contemporary institutional processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange/exhibition at a local, national or international level as well as British audiences’ reception and consumption. There should also be some emphasis on the students’ own experiences of being audiences of a particular medium. Centres may choose to focus on one of the following media industries:

Film

Music

Newspapers

Radio

Magazines

Video games

G322 - TV Drama

Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation

An ‘unseen’ moving image extract with one compulsory question dealing with textual analysis of various technical aspects of the languages and conventions of moving image media. Candidates will be asked to link this analysis with a discussion of some aspect of representation within the sequence.

The moving image extract will be provided by OCR in DVD format, with full instructions for the administration of the examination, viewing conditions and note-making time. Centres must prepare candidates in advance of the examination, using a range of examples from texts from the genre stated below, to demonstrate textual analysis of all of the following technical areas of moving image language and conventions in relation to the unseen extract:

Camera Angle, Shot, Movement and Composition

Mise-en-Scène

Editing

Sound

The focus of study for Section A is the use of technical aspects of the moving image medium to create meaning for an audience, focussing on the creation of representations of specific social types, groups, events or places within the extract. It is not necessary to study the history of the genre specified. Centres should use examples of the genre specified with their candidates to prepare them for undertaking unseen textual analysis.

G322Exam Unit Information

The purpose of these units is first to assess candidates’ media textual analysis skills and their understanding of the concept of representation using a short unseen moving image extract (AO1, AO2); second to assess candidates’ knowledge and understanding of media institutions and their production processes, distribution strategies, use of technologies and related issues concerning audience reception and consumption of media texts (AO1, AO2):

The examination is two hours (including 30 minutes for viewing and making notes on the moving image extract) and candidates are required to answer two compulsory questions. The unit is marked out of a total of 100, with each question marked out of 50.

There are two sections to this paper:

Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation (50 marks)

Section B: Institutions and Audiences (50 marks)

G321 - Foundation Portfolio

AS G321:

Foundation Portfolio in Media

The purpose of this unit is firstly to assess candidates’ ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills (AO3); secondly to assess candidates’ application of knowledge and understanding in evaluating their own work, showing how meanings and responses are created (AO2); and finally to assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research (AO4). The unit requires candidates to engage with contemporary media technologies, giving them the opportunity for development of skills in these technologies.

This is a coursework unit, internally assessed and externally moderated. Candidates produce a media artefact in response to briefs set by OCR plus some appropriate evidence of research and planning. The task provides progression from a pre-production, preliminary exercise to a more fully realised piece in the same medium. This offers the opportunity for skills development to be assessed, as well as a final finished piece.

AS Unit Organisation

AS Units G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media

The following briefs are offered: Print Video Audio Website

G322: Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)

Textual Analysis and Representation: Camera shots, Angle, Movement and Composition Editing Sound Mise-en-Scene Institutions and Audiences - one of the following media industries is chosen: Film Music Newspapers Radio Magazines Video Games

Course Introduction

The AS Level is both a ‘stand-alone’ qualification and also the first half of the corresponding A Level in Media Studies.

 

The AS Level (from September 2008) is made up of two units: G321 and G322.

 

 

G321:

 

Foundation Portfolio in Media

This is a coursework unit where candidates produce a media artefact from a series of briefs. This process involves progression from a pre-production, preliminary exercise to a more fully realised piece. The briefs offered are: print, video, audio and website. Candidates present their research and planning in either paper-based or digital format and do an evaluation in digital format, based on seven required prompt questions. This unit is internally assessed and externally moderated.

G322:

 

Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)

 

This paper covers the two areas of Textual Analysis and Representation alongside Institutions and Audiences. In Section A, candidates answer questions on an unseen moving image extract that is then linked to some aspect of the representation within the sequence. In Section B, candidates study a specific media industry from a choice of: film, music, newspapers, radio, magazines or video games. This unit is externally examined.