A2 exam: tips for Questions 1a and 1b

Questions 1a and 1b Tips

Narrative Analysis

Using your time lines of your narrative, annotate using the following questions;

1. What is the relationship between lyrics and visuals?

· Work through the song and identify ways in which the lyrics are illustrated or amplified or

even contradicted by the visuals.

· Pick out some specific examples to back up your argument.

2. What is the relationship between music and visuals?

· Does the video cut to the beat?

· Are solo instrumental bits illustrated by the video?

· Does the video change pace with the music?

· Give examples to support your points.

3. Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?

· How is the record company looking to sell this track?

· What image of the artist/band is being offered?

· How does this video relate to previous videos by the artist? Are there motifs which have been used previously? Or does this video represent a change of image?

4. Is there reference to the notion of looking?

· Do you get the sense that the artist is on sexual display or that other people in

the video are used in this way?

· Does camerawork, costume, dance or something else imply sexualised display?

· Are there other references to ‘looking’ such as screens within screens or binoculars, cameras, etc. Give examples and consider why these features have been chosen.

Examiner Report 2010

After every set of exam, the exam board produces a report which outlines which parts of the questions students responded well to and which were more challenging, along with exemplars of good practice.
From June 2010,

• Students found section A more challenging than Section B
• Good idea to answer the Section B question 1st (post modernism) as this is an hour and worth 50 marks, therefore any time issues will affect a 25 mark question from section A instead.
• Key advice: 1. interpret the question - 2. select examples of your work most appropriate for the question, allowing you to show analysis and reflection - 3. structure your response using the criteria from the mark scheme

Qu 1a). Skills Development (Digital technology/ creativity/ research and planning/ conventions from real media texts/ post production)

• 30mins/ 25marks
• Refer to all practical work completed over the course (AS and A2)
• show the link between the 2 skills referred to in the question
• be specific in the examples you use, clearly linked to the skill and using technical media language
• clearly mention your progress from AS to A2 and how this can be seen in the quality of your profuction
• show evaluation and reflection: e.g. how effective/ what were the outcomes of this skill/ strengths and weaknesses
• "conventions of real media texts" is more than just generic conventions: e.g. target audiences/ music/ post production etc

Qu 1b). Key Concepts (Narrative/Audience/Genre/Representation/Media Language)

• 30mins/25marks
• Choose 1 practical production to refer to
• set up the key concept for discussion and bring in other, relevant theorists etc
• apply these ideas to a range of specific elements from your chosen production
• evaluate the outcomes of how your production and the theory are linked. Be clear, with specific and detailed examples.

What is creativity?

Follow this link to some guidance on what being creative means and a quick activity to demonstrate how random it can be.
http://fordlcmedia.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-is-creativity.html

Past Questions: section A: questions 1a and 1b

A2 section A past questions