REVISION: EXTERNAL EXAM

90602: Explain the relationship between a media genre and society.

The focus of our genre study has been not just the Sit-Com or looking inside it to study its codes and conventions BUT what relationship the Sit-Com has to society throughout our timeline of 1950 to now and beyond AND how it has changed within the context of that changing relationship.

Key points to remember:

For ‘Achieved’ you must:

Clearly identify and define the genre you are talking about. (Not everyone has ‘done’ sit-coms.) Describe at least ONE recognised characteristic. (see your handout on the ‘conventions of sit com’)

Clearly identify the society you are talking about. (Not everyone has ‘done’ American sit-coms) Make sure you know some of the key social issues. Eg family structure, the women’s movement, black civil rights, the American Dream, the space race, technological advances…

Discuss at least THREE texts. Underline the name of the show and give information about the creator and the date. You should give specific examples from shows you have watched, detailing the content you are referring to, eg: narrative, action, characters, quotes, setting, costume…

Explain at least TWO clear connections between the genre and society:

Ø  genre's reflection of society's values and assumptions

Ø  reinforcement of dominant thinking in society

Ø  influence on values or behaviour in society

Ø  influence on other media forms.

Society's connections to the genre may be through, for example: political values, social values, moral values, technological changes or audience demand.

Discuss the connections between genre and society in terms of genre using examples of specific texts. The nature of the genre (form, style, narrative content) should be explained, references to ways in which your specific textual examples are representative of the genre should be made.

Check the nzqa website to see the marking schedule for last years external exam

www.nzqa.govt.nz/nqfdocs/ncea-resource/schedules/.../90602-ass-09.doc

and to find past exam questions

and to look at the assessment report

http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/assessment/search.do?query=90602&view=files&level=02

ACHIEVEMENT

Candidates who were awarded Achievement for this standard demonstrated the required skills and knowledge. They commonly:

identified the genre and the question to answer identified three texts to use as examples indicated some characteristics of their selected genre gave some indication of how their genre inter-connected to society demonstrated knowledge of chosen texts.

NOT ACHIEVED

Candidates who were assessed as Not Achieved for this standard lacked some or all of the skills and knowledge required for the award of Achievement. They commonly:

did not identify three relevant texts, or did not describe three sufficiently; and did not identify the director or creator of the text/s

did not study an appropriate genre (e.g. the texts they had studied did not constitute a genre) gave little or no indication of characteristics of the genre they had studied, or spent too much time on identifying conventions gave little or no indication of a connection between the genre and society discussed more than one genre (e.g. Documentary and Reality Television).

OTHER COMMENTS

Many candidates showed good understanding of the facets that connected their chosen genre to the society in which they were created. However, some gave repetitive material, much of it based on US society; and for some, the ‘analysis’ involved a decade-by-decade overview that was superficial, and, at times, false – for example, “the 1980s was all about greed and materialism”. When supported with only one text that displayed this characteristic, answers were weak. Many candidates had a multi-textual approach in which none of the texts were referred to with sufficient depth or detail. Only three texts are necessary to meet the requirements of the examination. Some candidates covered the same material (or the same depth of analysis) over numerous texts, and some resorted to re-telling of texts with little or no insight into their connection to genre or its connection with society.

Feedback on mid year essay ‘3 paragraphs using specific examples from the text to demonstrate how the sit com relates to American society’.

YOU NEED TO:

Underline the title eg: Bewitched and say who created it. Director and stars may also be appropriate. Cite the particular series and episode you want to talk about. Get the dates right. This fairly crucial.

CONTEXTUALISE! Remember that you must relate what you are saying to the society of the time, its BELIEFS, VALUES AND MORALS

Eg: Patriarchy / feminism, conservative ideas / ’permissive’ society, the nuclear family/ blended families / flatmates / workmates, intergenerational conflict, the role of science and technology, racisim, gay/straight. How do the issues in the text hi-light CHANGES in the way society is operating.

Is the text staying within mainstream society’s thinking (Father Knows Best) subverting it (Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie) or pushing against it, leading the way (All in the Family and Soap)

Consider the subversive nature of the magi-coms we have watched and the provocative nature of sit coms in general, they are designed to use humour to hi-light issues, challenge ‘accepted’ beliefs and behaviour, as we laugh at the characters we are laughing at ourselves and at the way society operates.

(Think of the creation of disequilibrium in narrative structures. What causes it? What does it take in each episode to bring us back to the equilibrium?)

Do the background work. Don’t make statements you can’t substantiate, or that are so general as to be pointless.

eg American parents want the best for their kids

Back in the 50’s all families were very similar.

Make sure you explain what you mean, if you are going to talk, for example, about being a ‘proper woman’, define this with specific examples and relate it to society’s expectations at the time, and just prior to the text’s creation. You will also want to look at how your example evolved eg solo mums, flatmates, girlfriends, sexuality…..

L3 Media mid year exam marking sheet

Definition of the terms of the question – this is an academic essay, you are required to define your terms: eg what is ‘reflect’, ‘influence’, ‘develop’ – this allows you to be clear from the start what you are arguing about.
Response addresses the question
Definitions of Key Terms:
Genre
Society (context) / Sit com
American
Cites
Conventions of Genre– identifies and links to topic/argument / 1.
2.
Three media texts used:
(title - underlined, year and creator)
Detailed scenes/evidence from at least 3 texts to support argument: makes clear connection to arguments/question
Writing is clear and well structured – indicative of L3 skill
Clear argument:
Explains A
Analyses M
Analyses perceptively E

Kapiti College

Level 3 Media Studies

Mid-Year Examination August 2010

AS 90602
Explain the relationship between a media genre and society
Credits: 4
Achievement Criteria
Achievement
/ Achievement with Merit
/ Achievement with Excellence
/
Explain the relationship between a media genre and society. / Analyse the relationship between a media genre and society. / Analyse perceptively the relationship between a media genre and society.
Student Instructions:
·  This is a ONE hour examination.
·  You must write ONE essay of not less than 600 words.
·  Write on refill paper.
·  Make sure that your name is on ALL refill sheets used.
·  Use the planning sheet provided on the back of this sheet.
·  You must support your answer with SPECIFIC EVIDENCE from at least THREE media texts.
·  You have 60 minutes to write your essay. Use 10 minutes for planning BEFORE writing your essay.
Choose only ONE question to answer in your essay.

Question 1

A genre is a product of the society in which it is created and therefore reflects that society.

Question 2

A genre and its conventions develop in response to the concerns and changes within society.

Question 3

Genre and society influence each other.

Planning Sheet

Question (your choice)
Definitions of Key Terms:
Q1.
Genre
Product
Reflects
Q2
Genre Conventions –
Develop
Social Concerns
Social Changes / 1.
2.
Q3
Genre
Society
Influence
My argument is:
Agree or
Disagree with statement
Reasons why: / 1.
2.
The Three media texts I will use:
(title, year and director) / 1.
2.
3.
The detailed scenes I will use from my texts to support my argument: / 1.
2.
3.

For exam preparation:

Definitions of Key Terms:

Genre: how genre is defined, what your genre is

What are the generic conventions you will talk about and how they develop/change

What society you are writing about and the key issues: Social Concerns

Social Changes

In what way is the text a Product of they society, how does it reflect society

How does it Influence society, how does society influence it?

Key arguments:

For your selected question make sure you say what you argument is, and wether you Agree or Disagree with the statement

List the Reasons why:

The Three media texts you will use:

(title, year and director)

The detailed scenes you will use from my texts to support my argument:

How have sitcoms changed?

Some sitcoms are quite traditional in their format and style. Generally, however, sitcoms have changed in the following ways

-  designed for niche audiences rather than whole family audiences

-  more politically correct (less reliance on racist/sexist humour)

-  more sexual content

-  more diversity in terms of race, gender, sexuality etc

-  more visually interesting and adventurous (more locations, shorter scenes, exciting camera work)

-  no studio audience / laughter track etc

-  darker themes and more dramatic content


2008 external exam paper questions

Discuss (explain and analyse) the relationship between a media genre and society by choosing one of the statements below for your essay topic.

Support the answer you have chosen by supplying evidence from at least three specific media texts.

A: Genre is dependent on the social context within which it is created.

B: When society changes, genres change

C: Genres influence society as much as they are influenced by society