Course Outline for G322

Overview
G322= 50% AS
G322 involves a 2 hour examination, in two sections.  You are required to answer 1 question in each section, with each carrying 50 marks out of a total of 100 for the unit.

The Exam
Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation- This section involves 1 compulsory question dealing with the textual analysis of a 4-5 minute TV drama clip.  You will be asked to link this analysis with a discussion of some aspect of representation within the sequence.

The clip could be taken from any one of a number of contemporary TV dramas.  It is not necessary to have studied the history of the genre.   You will have 30 minutes for viewing/ not taking, plus 45 minutes for essay writing.

In your essay you must analyse how micro elements of film language are used to create representational meaning. These micro elements include:

Camera Shots, Angle, Movement and Composition

Editing

Sound

Mise–en-scene

Particular areas of representation that may be chosen are:

·      Gender

·      Age

·      Ethnicity

·      Sexuality

·      Class and status

·      Physical ability/disability

·      Regional identity

Section B: Institutions and Audiences- This section will be 1 compulsory question on a case study of a specific media industry (film).

You must understand and discuss the processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange as they relate to contemporary media institutions, as well a the nature of audience consumption, and the relationship between audiences and institutions. You should become familiar with the following:

the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice;

the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing;

the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange;

the significance of proliferation in hardware (digital technologies, internet, mobiles etc) and content for institutions and audiences;

the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences;

the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically British) by international and global institutions;

the ways in which the students own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

You will need to produce two case studies, one on a major film studio (eg 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros ) and one on an UK independent  producer.

 Institutions

the issues raised by ownership patterns / trends in contemporary media practice

the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and

Marketing.

Audiences

the issues raised in the targeting of national / local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions

the ways in which the Students’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider

  patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

New technology

the impact of new technologies introduced in recent years (at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange) on institutions and audiences

the significance of the proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences

the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences