A2 Preparation Materials

1. A2 Preparation Materials Theories for exam preparation

2. Theories that need to be researched For the exam, you will need to be well informed on the following theoretical areas: • Representation • Audience • Narrative • Genre On the following slides are then names of theorists/academics who have researched and written about these areas with regard to how they are presented in media institutions. You will need to research these ideas, summarising the key points and finding key quotations that could be applied to case studies in the exam. Start NOW, as there is a lot to read and a lot to remember!

3. Theorists that need to be researched • Vladimir Propp • Jean Baudrillard • Laura Mulvey • Stuart Hall • Steve Neale • David Morley • Richard Dyer • Rick Altman • Roland Barthes • Tom Ryall • Ferdinand de Saussure • Todorov • Bulmer and Katz • Levi-Strauss • Gramsci • Henry Jenkins • Michael Wesch • Martin Barker • For each of these, you will need to: • Decide whether it is a theory for representation, audience, narrative or genre. • Summarise the main points/studies in relation to the theory • Try to think about examples in films, TV and real news situations (e.g. 2011 riots) where these theories might be evident

4. Collective Identity For the exam, we will be focussing on the collective identity of specific social groups and how they are represented in the media (the news, through TV and film, music, etc). To give you a good foundation for understanding these concepts, consider the following questions and brainstorm some ideas. • In contemporary (so past 5 years) examples, how is youth presented? Do these forms of representation adhere to or shape any stereotypes? • Research how youth has been presented in the UK in the past through the media (film, TV, news and music). Were there any particular time periods where there were ‘youth movements’? How did society react to these? Have these ‘movements’ developed or influenced the way young people act and are treated today? • Can you list any titles of films or TV programmes that show key representations of youth, both contemporary and older? (E.G. Misfits, Skins, Hollyoaks, This Is England).

5. Collective Identity • In contemporary (so past 5 years) examples, how are women presented? Do these forms of representation adhere to or shape any stereotypes? • Research how women have been presented in the UK in the past through the media (film, TV, news and music). Were there any particular time periods where there were radical movements that changed women's’ role in society? How did society react to these? Have these ‘movements’ developed or influenced the way women act and are treated today? • Can you list any titles of films or TV programmes that show key representations of women, both contemporary and older? (e.g. The Good Wife, Homeland, Silk, The Iron Lady).

6. Collective Identity • In contemporary (so past 5 years) examples, how are ethnic groups presented? Do these forms of representation adhere to or shape any stereotypes? • Research how different ethnic groups have been presented in the UK in the past through the media (film, TV, news and music). Were there any particular time periods where there were radical movements or events that changed the perception of ethnic groups, either in a positive or negative way? How did society react to these? Have these ‘movements’ developed or influenced the way different ethnic groups act and are treated today? • Can you list any titles of films or TV programmes that show key representations of diverse ethnic groups, both contemporary and older? (e.g. United 93 – and many other post 9/11 programmes and films, Homeland, Luther, Eastenders, Four Lions).