General

Film = Reflects Youth Culture

Music =  Creates culture

Structure

Introduction 

• State line of argument
• Background
• An example
• 3-5 Lines

Paragraphs

• Point
• What you mean e.g. Definition?
• Context
• Example (Either/both Film or Music Video)
• Micro-elements to support (Other examples)
• Contrast

Conclusion (Draft)

Q6) With reference to any one group of people that you have studio, discuss now their identity has been "Mediated"?

In conclusion, Youth Culture is certainly mediated to an generous extent.

The Media plays a large role in over-exaggerating and sensationalising the vilifying aspects of Youth Culture, and it is becoming harder for individual teenagers to reject the stereotype and exist outside of Media perceptions. Teenagers are predominantly portrayed as dangerous, and this representation is emphasised and re-presented as the "Norm", as theorised by Richard Dyer, through films ("Kidulthood"), TV programmes ("Waterloo Road"), and News coverage focusing exclusively on the negative (BBC: "Boy aged 15 remains in custody after teacher Anne Maguire stabbed to death in front of class").

Although it is untrue to say that Media presentations are entirely baseless, and in that respect the Youth identity as dangerous is not mediated, these presentations are not standard. They are simply easier to sell than that of an academic, hard-working and mature student, which are generally the majority. Charles Acland's theory could be applied in the sense that the Media is creating a hegemony in which teenagers are deemed dangerous and out-of-control, and ultimately, it is very much the case that teenage identity is being shaped to fit the dangerous, aggressive stereotype, moving away from that of reality.

Exam Tips - How you will be marked and what they are looking for?

Key Areas of Media and Collective Identity

• How do the contemporary media represent (Youth Culture) in different ways?
• How does contemporary representations compare to previous time periods?
• What are the social implications of different representations of groups of people?
• To what extent is human identity increasingly "mediated"?

From the Specification

The majority of examples in candidates' answers should be contemporary (5 Years). However, theories and approaches may be drawn from any time period

Where candidates refer to only one media area in their answers, marks will be restricted

Where candidates fail to provide of infra historical references and/or future projections, marks will be restricted

Examiner's Report

Examples and case studies should be from within the last 5 years (E.g. Since 2009)

• "Classic" case studies add little value for candidates

The stronger answers were those that managed to tackle the question of how dominant representations inform identity, with the less accomplished responses tackling the latter for granted, or merely dealing with the degree of "accuracy" of the representations

Balance is important. All the critical perspectives are chosen because there are "no right answers". More candidates would reach level 4 if they approached with this in mind

The stronger answers are those which present a balanced argument with a clear structure, weighing up competing arguments, developing the case through the use of examples and working towards a conclusion

The Mark Scheme

Explanation/Analysis/Argument = 20 marks

Use of Examples = 20 marks

Use of terminology = 10 marks

Music

Historically the youth culture has stemmed from music

Film has sought to represent youth culture whereas music seeks to appeal to them

Remember we talked about how the music industry was reactive to the culture (Cool-Hunting)

OCR > Media and Communaticatiosn > Past Papers

Exam 2

What is collective identity, and how is it mediated?

Plan

Define Collective Identity:

"Collective identity is the shared sense of belonging to a group"

Examples of Collective Identity, E.g. 1950's Youth

Mediated in a variety of ways, E.g.

• The demonisation of Youth went a long way in forcing various groups into one collective culture, E.g. Lad culture, Hoodies, Mods & Rockers, Punk
• Creating of two simple stereotypes for groups to fit into (Mooks, Midriffs), and the systematic, and constant, influencing of youths to conform to these cuts outs
• Distinction between Labels desired and one applied to a group, such as Mod versus Mook

Targets

1. Memorise Theorists and their Theories
2. Case Studies and general notes of what we've learnt
3. Practise essay writing and timing

Questions

Analyse the ways in which the media represent one group of people you have studied? [50]

"The media do not construct collective identity; they merely reflect it" Discuss [50]

Line of Argument: To some extent the statement is true, however, the Media does have some influence in constructing collective identity.

Agree

• Demonisation of Youth through film - During the 1950's, when Youth Culture had only just begun to bloom, the Media vilified teenagers, most clearly seen in films, such as "Beat Girl"
• This tradition has continued to grow; 1970's coverage of PUNK and "Scum", 1980's "Clockwork Orange"
• Modern: Hoodies
• However, it could be argued that these are all heavily exaggerated and sensationalised representations which don't depict an adequate picture of Youth, and influence teenagers to behave in this way and conform

Disagree

• Sexualisation of teenage girls
• MTV's "Midriffs"

With reference to any one group of people that you have studied, discuss how their identity has been "mediated" [50]

"Media representations are complex, not simple and straightforward." How far do you agree with this statement in relation to the collective group that you have studied? [50] 

Recap

What are the values of subculture?

• Conformity and rebellion
• Attitude to Capitalism and Consumerism
• "Tribal" rivalry
• Traditional or "neophile"

Teenagers will often move between subcultures, and older youths mix and match styles/values from a mix of subcultures

Adults can appear to conform for most of the working week, but can re-enter the subculture at specific times e.g. Weekends, festivals, etc

"There are many streams" - Mainstream is in perpetual flux, rapaciously absorbing alternative culture at such as fast rate that the notion of mainstream becomes obsolete

Richard Dyer "Star Theory"

• Stars represent shared cultural values and attitudes, and will promote a certain ideology
• Fans who agree with that set of values will support the Star
• Fans will imitate Stars in an aspirational effort to get "closer" to the glamourous, fantasy lifestyle they appear to have - This may take the form of "dressing up", imitating performances, adopting behaviour, etc

The Pop Music Industry does not create long-lasting subcultures - It struggles to keep up with Youth values and groups

Subcultures in the Music Industry are created by the practitioners 

Real dichotomy between film and music

"Teens will often being to more than one culture, that they will move from culture to culture in time and over time, and that they will even 'mix and match' these styles from time to time. But let us also note

that this is not the Post-Modernist's pastiche. There are basic types of teen. They remain coherent and habitable, with characteristic values, practises and styles." - Grant McCracken

Exam Questions

Exam Questions

With reference to any one group of people that you have studied, discuss how their identity has been "Mediated"? [50]

"Media representations are complex, not simple and straightforward." How far do you agree with this statement in relation to the collective group that you have studied? [50]

Analyse the ways in which the Media represent one group of people you have studied. [50]

"The Media do not construct collective identity; they merely reflect it." Discuss. [50]

Explain the role played by the media in the construction of collective identity. [50]