MIGRAIN 3 Assessment - Learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).

WWW: 

- There are some good points made across both questions but I think this also provides a useful lesson in exam technique and the depth required for the top levels.

EBI: 

- Check terminology : you need to be getting serif/sans serif right.

- More reference to the text is needed in order to get more depth in your analysis.

- Media theory is a weakness : revise this and see mark scheme for examples of how you can develop this.

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the number of marks you achieved for the two questions: _/8; _/12. If you didn't achieve full marks in a question, write a bullet point on what you may have missed.

Q1: 4/8

• Good use of the theoretical framework (media language) to analyse how meanings are generated

• Frequent appropriate use of subject specific terminology throughout.

Q2; 5/12 

• Good knowledge and understanding of the influences of the social and cultural contexts on media products that is usually supported by mostly appropriate and effective reference to examples.

• Frequent appropriate use of subject specific terminology throughout.

3) For Question 2 on the social and cultural contexts of gender representations, identify three potential points in the mark scheme that you didn't include in your answer.

• The female model arguably provides evidence for each element of van Zoonen’s theory regarding the representation of women. Here, she is clearly objectified, restricted to a secondary role (at the man’s feet), passive, framed to emphasise her sexuality and adhering to white western beauty standards. This could undoubtedly have an impact on media audiences and therefore influence social or cultural norms.

• David Gauntlett argues that masculinity is constantly evolving and social concerns that masculinity is ‘in crisis’ are exaggerated. However, this campaign does not provide particular evidence for an evolution in representations of men (aside perhaps from a lack of socks and no necktie). Indeed, this campaign reinforces classic masculine stereotypes and therefore

perhaps provides evidence against Gauntlett’s theory.

• The campaign reinforces Judith Butler’s work in Gender Trouble – particularly the idea that gender is culturally and socially constructed – not ‘natural’. The construction of the adverts supports Butler’s idea that we are conditioned to adhere to social norms – both in terms of gender roles and heterosexuality.

4) Having read the whole mark scheme, pick out one media theory that you didn't include in this assessment and summarise it briefly here so you can use it confidently in future.

Van Zoonen believes the media portray images of stereotypical women and this behaviour reinforces societal views. 

5) Based on your experience in this assessment, identify three aspects of Media (e.g. skills/particular theories/examples) that you need to work on for your next assessment.

- terminology 

- media theories 

- references to the text