TV 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: some excellent points linking representation to ideology 

EBI: more on intertextuality, more of an understanding about how fictional texts are not ideological 

2) Read the whole mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Identify at least one potential point that you missed out on for each question in the assessment (even if you got full marks for the question).

Q1:
• The distinction between actors and characters is arguably breaking down as films allude to
stars’ previous roles or reputations or deliberately play an actor against type.
• Criticisms of Hollywood cinema for the lack of originality in the film industry with reliance on
franchises or sequels. Even a film such as Kingsman: The Secret Service has been developed
from a comic and makes many intertextual references to the long-running and hugely
successful James Bond: 007 film franchise.

Q2:

• media products – particularly fictional genres such as dramas – are constructed for

entertainment and escapism

• the audience alignment with appealing, central characters demonstrates that the form is

about individual, not ideological experiences

3) The first question demanded a response using postmodern terminology. Write a definition here of the three main terms:

Bricolage: The juxtaposition of old and new

Pastiche: Imitation of previous texts

Intertextuality: References other texts

4) Read this exemplar answer for the 25-mark question in the assessment.
 Select a quote from the essay for each of the following aspects from the mark scheme:

a) analysis of the products that focuses on contexts and ideological positioning

Although positive representations of asylum seekers and immigration - plus the negative portrayal of the upper-middle class white Yount family - suggest leftwing ideologies are being promoted, all the characters audiences are encouraged to sympathise with work hard and contribute to the economy.

b) use of media theory

Applying Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, this is unconsciously communicating to audiences the value in working hard, earning money and contributing to consumerism and capitalism - maintaining the status quo and reinforcing more rightwing ideology.

c) a judgement or conclusion on the question

In conclusion, it is impossible to ignore the ideological positions constructed by television

dramas and Capital and D83 are no exception to this. However, it could be argued that

different audiences can read these fictional genres in different ways depending on their own

perspectives and therefore social, cultural and political contexts are not the only aspect to

this process.

d) examples from the TV CSPs

economy. Bogdan the Eastern European builder is shown sleeping at work, Quentina insists on working long days illegally because she doesn’t want to take state handouts, even Roger is portrayed in an ‘under-the-armpit’ camera shot on a packed tube train and later working on his laptop in bed.

e) use of media terminology 

However, some audiences may challenge this dominant or preferred reading and suggest

that other ideological readings are available.

5) Based on this assessment, write three things you need to revise before the upcoming end of Year 12 exams.

• spend more time annotating poster
• argue both sides of questions
• use more media terminology