Due 04/29
Your AICE Media Studies Exam consists of two parts:
Section A: Textual analysis and representation (50 marks) A moving image extract will be provided by Cambridge in DVD format. Candidates will analyze how technical aspects of the language and conventions of the moving image medium are used to create meaning for an audience. Candidates should study a range of texts so that they can discuss, in response to the question, how the following technical elements create specific representations of individuals, groups, events or places and help to articulate specific messages and values that have social significance:
Camera shots, angle, movement and composition:
• shots: establishing shot, master shot, close-up, mid-shot, long shot, wide shot, two-shot, aerial shot, point-of-view shot, over-the-shoulder shot, and variations of these
• angle: high angle, low angle, canted angle
• movement: pan, tilt, track, dolly, crane, steadicam, hand-held, zoom, reverse zoom
• composition: framing, depth of field – deep and shallow focus, focus pulls
Editing: This includes transition of image and sound – continuity and non-continuity systems.
• cutting: shot/reverse shot, eyeline match, graphic match, action match, jump cut, crosscutting, parallel editing, cutaway, insert
• other transitions: dissolve, fade-in, fade-out, wipe, superimposition, long take, short take, slow motion, ellipsis and expansion of time, post-production, visual effects.
Sound:
• diegetic and non-diegetic sound, synchronous/asynchronous sound, sound effects, sound motif, sound bridge, dialogue, voiceover, mode of address/direct address, sound mixing, sound perspective
• soundtrack: score, incidental music, themes and stings, ambient sound.
Mise-en-scène:
• production design: location, studio, set design, costume and make-up, properties
• lighting, color design
We spent the last three quarters preparing for this part of the exam and you completed a mock exam for this Section when you viewed the "Black Mirror" clip and wrote the semester exam essay.
Section B: Institutions and audiences (50 marks) One question is to be answered from a choice of two. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the processes of production, distribution and marketing as they relate to contemporary media institutions, as well as the nature of audience consumption and the relationships between audiences and institutions. In addition, candidates should be familiar with:
• the issues raised by media ownership and funding 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 at the point of consumption
• the significance of the spread of such technologies for institutions and audiences
• the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences
• the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences by international or global institutions
• the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends in audience behavior.
Assignment 1: You will partially prepare for this section of the exam by reading the following article "
Audiences & Institutions". You will then write a paper of at least
600 words, on what you learned about audiences and institutions and how this information relates to the genre or genres you have focused on this year. You should mention and memorize information about specific studios and movies.
You will upload this paper to the Canvas Assignment Posted this week.
