Essay Question

Aims

To examine mark scheme for section B

To apply understanding of representation of youth to a past exam question.

Explanation / analysis / argument (16-20 marks)

Candidates adapt their learning to the specific requirements of the chosen question in excellent fashion and make connections in order to present a coherent argument.

The answer offers a clear, fluent balance of media theories and knowledge of industries and texts and informed personal engagement with issues and debates.

Use of examples (16-20 marks)

Examples of contemporary texts and industry knowledge are clearly connected together in the answer.

History and the future are integrated into the discussion with conviction.

Use of terminology (8-10 marks)

Throughout the answer, material presented is informed by media theory and the command of the appropriate conceptual and theoretical language is excellent.

June 2011

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

What is the question asking?

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

In other words, how does the media (film/press/broadcast news/social media) create representations of youth/young people.

Where to start? 7 Explain the role played by the media in the construction of

collective identity. [50]

1. Write a brief plan.

2. State your argument (e.g. Media representations of young people are often very negative. Demonisation of youth)

Link your argument to a relevant theorist (Mass media construct representations of youth from a middle class, adult perspective, for the ideological purpose of maintaining hegemony – Gramsci. Also David Gauntlett – identity is not ‘given’ but are constructed and negotiated)

3. Introduce the texts you will be focusing on. 1. Quadrophenia/Clockwork Orange, newspaper/broadcast news during

London riots, social media and Plan B.

What next? 7 Explain the role played by the media in the

construction of collective identity. [50]

1. Historical representations – Quadrophenia and Clockwork Orange

2. Discuss how these films constructed representation of youth identity. Give specific examples.

3. Link to theory, Stan Cohen – Moral Panics, deviance amplification by the media

How do I link to contemporary texts?

It could be argued that the media still demonises young people today and creates moral panics as exemplified by my recent research of newspapers.

The demonsiation of young people is still evident today. During last years London riots the mass media fuelled this negative portrayal of young people. For example…

Moral panics are still evident today. The London riots is an example of the media creating a panic about young people….

How would I use my own research into riots?

When you offer your own examples of construction of youth identity don’t forget to state which bulletin/newspaper you are discussing and the date it was published/broadcast.

Be specific with your examples and discuss how that text constructs the identity of young people.

Could link in the ideas of Gramsci (hegemony) and Foucault (discourse and power).

What next? 7 Explain the role played by the media in the

construction of collective identity. [50]

Were youths given space within the discourse of the media to construct a positive identity?

Could use stats to show the ages of those in court.

Give examples of construction of positive representation of youth identity.

What next? 7 Explain the role played by the media in the

construction of collective identity. [50]

Can the role played by the media in the construction of identity ever be resisted or challenged?

Offer specific examples to illustrate your argument. Clean up, not in my name campaign, supporting MET police

Facebook page, 99% campaign

Foucault and Gramsci

The media constructs identity to a certain extent however….

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

Discuss specific examples of how social media could perhaps challenge the demonisation of young people by the mass media.

Could link in David Gauntlett and also David Buckingham.

Plan B 7 Explain the role played by the media in the

construction of collective identity. [50]

Time4planb campaign

Wants the media to offer a fairer representation of young people and give them hope for the future (link to possible reasons for London riots)

Song and video for iLL Manors challenges/fuels collective identity? Give specific examples from both his music video, lyrics and also his statement on his website.

Future? 7 Explain the role played by the media in the

construction of collective identity. [50]

Has the role the media plays in the construction of identity changed over time?

Could younger creators of the media have a role in offering a fairer, more truthful representation of young people today?

Has social media empowered youth to have a voice within the media?

• Could it be argued that social media has limited impact compared to mass media?

Finally

Link all ideas/theory together.

Summarise how far you think media plays a role in constructing identity of young people.

Could continuous negative portrayals of young people can have a damaging impact on young people in society?

Could end by linking to Gauntlett and his idea that identity can be negotiated and consider the future of youth identity.

Or consider Mikhail Bakhtin who stated that ‘individual people cannot be finalised, completely understood, known, or labelled. He saw identity as the ‘unfinalised self’, meaning a person is never fully revealed or known.’

June 2011

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

Essay to be submitted Monday 26th March 2012