Question 2 lacks relevance at times and there is repetition that takes place which isn't needed.
Question 4 there is a lot of repetition also.
Section A written English / question focus / repetition keeps you from top levels.
Section B: Question 6 give the studio if possible, needs more question focus, does it link to enjoyment? more specific.
Overall section b loses question focus near the end, spelling and you missed important narrative theory.
2) Did you succeed in meeting or exceeding your target grade in AS Media? If not, how many additional marks do you need across Section A and Section B to achieve your target grade?
I met my media target grade.
3) Read through the mark scheme. Pay particular attention to pages 5-8 that has anticipated content for each of the questions in Section A. How many of these potential points did you make? Did you successfully answer the questions?
question 1: i mentioned 2/6 of the points in the mark scheme. I do feel i successfully answered the question because in these points i used various types within that section.
question 2: i mentioned 2/9 points. I don't feel that i answered the question properly because of the depth my answers lacked and not enough reference to the different brands referred to in the clip.
question 3: i mentioned 2/9 points. i do feel i answered the question successfully because of the alternative yet valid points i made as well as going into depth.
question 4: i mentioned 2/6 points. i do feel i answered the question well because of the alternative in depth points i made however i could have made further points to get higher marks in the question.
4) Which was your strongest question in Section A? Why did you do better in that particular question?
my strongest question in section a was question 3. This is because not only did i agree with the statement on a personal level but also because it was the question i was able to go into more depth with.
5) Which was your weakest question in Section A? Again, try and identify why this happened. Did you misinterpret the question? Did you run out of time?
my weakest question was question 2. This is because i struggled to realise many references to other brands and despite identifying a few i did lose confidence in the question preventing me from allocating efficient time to the question due to thinking about it too much and not being able to elaborate on the few points i was making.
6) Rewrite your answer for your weakest question in Section A. This should now be a detailed, three-paragraph 12-mark response.
Question 2 Media Institutions (12 marks)
How are links with other brands and media products used in the trailer to promote ‘Call of Duty: Ghosts’?
In terms of institution many links are made to various other brands and media products helping to promote 'Call Of Duty' through appealing to various similar target audiences and helping to create positive associations with the brand. To start with, the brand uses a lot of star power to promote the brand. Using starts such as the cameo appearance of Megan Fox, in the building sequence of the clip, helps to create connotations which are preferably positive with the brand. Megan Fox is presented in the context of the trailer, e.g the way she shoots down the drone behind one of the protagonists, which allows synergy to be created with the Megan Fox 'institution' and the Call of duty brand. This would not only encourage the male audience to prefer the brand through the appeal of women (Mulvey: male gaze) but also would encourage pre-existing Megan Fox fans who have already developed a personal relationship(uses and gratifications theory: Blumler and Katz) with Megan Fox through being loyal fans and following her to play call of duty due to the associations being made. This is therefore a way that Megan Fox as a 'brand' helps to promote call of duty:ghosts through her cameo appearance in the trailer.
Another brand that the trailer links to is the space genre in general helping to promote call of duty ghosts. This is mainly done though the potential reference to 'Gravity' the movie. This is done through the astronaut scene which is almost identical to the scenes in the Gravity trailers. This not only provides the audience with the pleasure of noticing the movie reference but also helps to indirectly promote gravity or use gravity to promote the game. Moreover the connotations of Gravity as a brand is that of being unique, powerful, world changing and is also known for its amazing graphics and real life experience, these are all qualities the Call of Duty aims to convey through the connection of both the brands being associated together in the trailer.This would therefore be done through a preferred reading (Levi Strauss: representations theory) creating the connotations with the positive stereotypes of the movie (Perkins) rather than the negative. This is therefore a way that the link to the brand of space genre movies that are popular among males (their primary target audience) especially Gravity helps to promote the Call of duty brand through the trailer.
Another brand link made within the call of duty trailer is that to Buddy Movies especially The Hangover. This is done through the representation of the male protagonists. In various scenes we see them messing around like typical male friends eg. teasing about Megan Fox, nudging each other and laughing at the things they all do. This would therefore broaden the identification appeal (uses and gratifications theory: Blumblr and Katz) as a wide male audience would see themselves being presented in a rather accurate way due to the stereotypical behavior (Perkins). This therefore helps to link the male friendship brand connotation of 'buddy movies' and helps it appeal to the call of duty primary male audience and further the appeal of the game. Another 'buddy movie' reference especially to The hangover is the LA setting which is typically connotated with drug, sex, and having a good time in casinos etc. which are values the call of duty brand would like to associate itself due to the overlapping primary target audiences. This therefore is a way buddy movies such as the hang over are referenced in the call of duty trailer to help establish a positive and effective link between the two brands helping to promote the game.
Yes
8) Question focus is the most important factor for a top-level response. Did you use the key words in the question in every paragraph?
Yes i did however despite this i started to drift of topic as i progressed through the essay.
9) Read the Examiner's Report in full. For each question in Section A, look at whether you included the things the Chief Examiner refers to in the stronger responses. Did any of the problems identified with some answers apply to you? Be specific. Now look at the Examiner's Report for your chosen question in Section B. Did your response fit the stronger or weaker examples highlighted by the Chief Examiner?
Section A
- Q1- focus on the specific aspect
- how excitement was replicated through the various camera shots
- spectator feeling presented due to the P.O.V shots
- On reflection of this section i feel that i did make reference to things such as sound and editing which the report suggests to show a lack of confidence in the camera work element of the media forms.
- Q2- brands identified but unable to link them to the positive associations created caused this question to be deemed as fairly hard for students
- genre conventions could have been referenced
- could link Megan Fox to the transformers brand and then back to the game
- reference to the singer and their loyal fan base didn't seem fit
- In reflection i feel that i was unable to link the listed brands to the positive associations that would have appealed to the target audience which meant i hadn't correctly identified and answered the question which is why it was my weakest answer.
- Q3- referencing to the construction of masculinity and stereotypes of this
- direct address, identification and camerawork were the stronger aspects to mention
- phallic symbols
- i feel that i had a fairly good response to this question in regards to the report.
- Q4- debates around the representation of gun violence
- gap between reality of gun violence and its representation
- comic and fantastic imagery audience was aware of the fantasy
- stray bullet hitting jackpot in the casino
- evidence from the trailer was important
- In reflection i feel that the weaker aspect of my answer was that i failed to respond enough in the potential debates around gun violence and didn't identify the potential idea of it being understood as fantasy.
- contemporary media debates
- focus on case studies
- need to have enough case study depth to provide balanced answers
- range is extremely important
- important to remain on the question set!
- prevent repetition from taking place
- (focus on Q6)
- narrative enigmas in posters
- trailers lead to fulfillment i narrative pleasures
- important to link to audience enjoyment too
- Overall i feel that my response fit, just about, the stronger answers due to the range of ideas i offered and made sure i was answering the question rather than just inputting the range of platforms and films. However i did need further question focus and more confidence in writing in quality rather than quantity as i did repeat myself a lot and also feel that the range wasn't as vast as the examiner would have liked.
10) Finally, identify three things you will do differently in the real exam in two weeks. These can refer to preparation, notetaking, Section A or Section B - it is up to you.
Firstly, i will make sure to do more practice papers in preparation.
I will also learn to not repeat myself when making points by making better plans.
Moreover i will make sure i learn my movie case studies in much more depth.
