B321: Individual Media Studies Portfolio

Assessment Objectives

Candidates are expected to demonstrate their ability to:

AO1 Recall, select and communicate their knowledge and understanding of media

products and the contexts in which they are produced and consumed.

AO2 Analyse and respond to media texts/topics using media key concepts and

appropriate terminology.

AO3 Demonstrate research, planning and presentational skills.

AO4 Construct and evaluate their own products using creative and technical skills.

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Marking Criteria for Production Exercise

This assignment is marked out of 40.

Level 4 (31–40 marks)

An excellent response to the task that demonstrates:

• excellent organisation and presentational skills in the chosen medium

• excellent understanding of the media language that has been used to construct representation

• excellent understanding of the generic codes and conventions that have been used to construct

representation

• excellent sense of creativity and stimulation employed in targeting a specific audience.

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Marking criteria for assignment

This assignment is marked out of 60.

Level 4 (46–60 marks)

Candidates will demonstrate:

• detailed and thorough knowledge and understanding of the texts studied

• thoughtful and insightful analysis and interpretation of the texts

• very good understanding of how texts represent social and cultural messages and values,

including proficient identification and interpretation of those messages and values

• very good understanding of how texts use media language and areas of representation

• very good knowledge and understanding of the codes and conventions according to generic

categorisations of media texts

• accurate use of technical terms and medium-specific terminology, as appropriate

• very good understanding of the effects of techniques on texts and audiences

• confident comparison of media texts, as appropriate

• appropriate use of some examples to support points made

• personal insights and engagement with objects of study and concepts.

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Research

we decided we would research similar products to understand generic codes and conventions.

Little Mermaid

The poster above is from the original film ‘The Little Mermaid’ originally created in 1990. I chose this poster for the film because the way Ariel (the little mermaid) is reaching for the light which represents the land as, in the film, she dreams of living on land. The connotative interpretation of this is Ariel’s desire for her dream. The poster at the bottom is darker and gradually gets lighter showing her desire to become human. Ariel’s hand is reaching out, symbolizing reaching for land.

Brave

In this poster there is Merida with her family behind her which includes her mother, father and three brothers. Merida is infront of her family this represents some form of seperation between her and her family. Merida’s family are acting playfully except her mother who is standing looking at Merida which shows there relation with each other.

Merida is holding her bow and arrow low to the ground as if she is about to release the arrow. The arrow is to represent freedom in flight and Is a weapon more associated with male this shows her masculin side which is antistereotypical for a tradional princess. There is contrast between the blue and red, the blue and green colours represtents freedom and that her parents are looking into her future whereas Merida is only thinking about the present. In the background behind Meridas family is their kingdom in their kingdom you can see the bridge, towers and there castle. in the film Merida rides along the bridge when running away wanting her freedom. This represnts her to be free spirited.

Tangled

In this poster for the Disney film ‘Tangled’, the audience can see three figures, Rapunzel, Flynn, Pascal and the horse. They are centred in the poster, which shows their importance to the film. In the film Rapunzel is taken as a baby from her parents (The King and Queen) and kept in the tower shown in the poster’s background. As part of this she never really belonged to society and was isolated from civilization and separated from generic conventions, which is why she is tougher and more confident that people expect her to be.

The Title in this film is lower centered below her hair this hints the film is something to do with her hair. The colour of the title is and ‘off gold’ colour which matches the hair above. The ‘ G’ in the title has a swirled tail representing Rapunzel’s hair and matches the hair she is holding. The titles backed onto a grass setting, which contrasts the colour and makes the title stand out. The titles colour and her hair is a golden colour, which represents her purity and innocence. The film is called Tangled because from the start of her life everything has been ‘messed up’ and she has never felt quite right were she was then she meets Flynn and begins to work things out and ‘untangle’ her past.

Above the Title is the Company name ‘ Disney’ this is important to a film poster because if the Audience recognize a successful film company they will be more inclined to go and see the film.

The main image of this film is focused on main characters, which are all in a fighting pose, which intimates that fighting may be involved in the film. Rapunzel is Centre front, which suggests she is defending them in some way. The colours, which the characters are wearing, are contrasted by the green, blue and grey colours in the background, which makes them, stand out. The princess is wearing a purple dress, which is mainly the only bright colour which represents she is content and positive character and her hair is draped in front of her representing she’s using it as a weapon for defence.