A Level Media Studies Paper 4: Critical Perspectives
October/November 2022
9607/04
Section A: Media Debates
Media regulation
Evaluate some of the different ways in which the idea of freedom is used in debates about media regulation. [15]
Plan:
P1 - Freedom of speech
Case study: The permanent suspension of Donald Trump's twitter account due to the violation of Twitter's policy, "glorification of violence."
P2 - Freedom of creativity
Case study: Some episodes of it's always sunny in Philadelphia (2005) include satirical scenes of blackface, brownface and yellow face. These scenes were perceived as entertainment in the past, however in 2021, after the premiere of season 15, some episodes are pulled out for being "insensitive." The show is now missing 5 episodes on streaming services (Netflix, Hulu and Disney+). Many fans were view this as an action that limits creativity and freedom of expression.
P3 - Consumer freedom
Case study: Since the rights of Friends (1994-2004) were purchased by YouKu, specific scenes that included "inappropriate" contents were censored/cut off. YouKu (Chinese streaming service) is owned by Alibaba Group Holding which is partly owned by the Chinese government. This has resulted in the censorship of some scenes in the series to follow the guidelines issued in 2015 to censor "vulgar, immoral and unhealthy contents" and ban "abnormal sexual relationship and behavior."
Specific example -> in the episode "The One with the Lesbian Wedding," scenes including the mention of LGBTQ+ are cut off. This has sparked a controversy. Fans created the hashtag #FriendsCensored but the government took all of the posts not long after (also an example of the infringement of freedom of speech)
Topic Sentence
P1 - Many argue that freedom of speech is a right that should be protected, and that media regulation should not be used as a tool for censorship or limiting expression.
P2 - Some people believe that media regulations should not limit the freedom of creative expressions.
P3 - Others argue that consumers should have the freedom to access and consume a wide range of media content, without excessive regulation or censorship.
Postmodern media
‘It is difficult to fully appreciate popular culture without an understanding of postmodernism.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [15]
Topic Sentence
P1 - In order to be able to fully appreciate a postmodern film, audiences will be required to understand some key characteristics of postmodernism such as intertextuality, self reflexivity and parody.
P2 - To be able to fully appreciate the context of a film, audience will need to be able to differenciate between reality, heightened reality and hyper reality.
Power and the media
‘Ownership of media companies is restricted to a privileged minority, which means that the media are never fully representative.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [15]
Plan:
P1 - Black representation & Post-colonialism
P2 - Illusion of choice - Disney being more inclusive
Topic Sentence
P1 -
P2 -
P3 -
Section B: Media Ecology
Analyse the significance of the convergence of the smartphone with mass communication technology. [30]
Plan:
P1 - The shit down of Disney channel in SEA (2021) -> more focus on Disney+
P2 - Boys Planet online voting and online streaming
P3 - Vogue magazine - Physical -> online zine
Topic Sentence
P1 - As technology advances, the media industry is moving from traditional media towards new media that we can access through our smartphone.
P2 - With the help of smartphones, TV shows are able to reach a wider audience and allow prosumerism.
P3 - In this digital age less people are willing to buy physical prints of magazines since it’s more practical for them to search for information through smartphones.
May/June 2022
9607/41
Section A: Media debates
Media regulation
Analyse the challenges of regulating the media in the digital age. [15]
Plan:
P1 - Globalization, media has became more easily accessible.
Case Study: Friends censorship in China, Chinese audience can access uncensored episodes with VPN
Theory: Cultivation theory - Friends got censored due to LGBTQ+ related content. The Chinese government believes that the exposure of same sex relationship will lead to Chinese citizen normalizing LGBTQ+.
P2 - Technological convergence, piracy, screen recording
Case Study: Suzume was released on Nov 2022 in Japan & on March 2023 in Indonesia. However, Indonesian audience are able to watch the pirated movie through illegal websites (loklok.com) or social media (twitter)
P3 - Speed of dissemination on social media,
Case Study: Information spreads fast on twitter due to features such as retweet, copy-paste and screenshot. Donald trump got permanently suspended for violating twitter's policy (glorification of violence), although Twitter have removed the tweets, most people have seen it already and the screenshots & copy of the tweets are still spreading.
People's debate: US Law section 230 needs to be reformed, infringement of freedom of speech, the suspension was too late.
Topic Sentence
P1 - With the help of technological convergence, the internet has allowed audience to access media from around the world, making it difficult for local regulators to regulate media.
P2 - Another challenge in regulating the media is the rise of piracy of new media.
P3 - Information can spread rapidly on the internet, making it difficult for media regulators to respond quickly to harmful or false information.
Paragraph:
P1 - With the help of technological convergence, the internet has allowed audience to access media from around the world, making it difficult for local regulators to regulate media. An example is, how Chinese audience get away with the censorship of specific scenes in the American television sitcom, Friends (1994-2004). In 2021 HBO Max hosted a Friends Reunion which has sparked the interest of Chinese people. Due to that, YouKu (Chinese streaming service) owned by Alibaba Group purchased the rights to stream to the Chinese market. A part of the shares of Alibaba Group Holdings are owned by the Chinese government which has influence the censorship of some scenes in the series to follow the guidelines issued in 2015 to censor "vulgar, immoral and unhealthy contents" and ban "abnormal sexual relationship and behavior" However, with the help of technological convergence, audiences are able to find ways to watch the uncensored original episodes with the help of VPN, video piracy and illegal streaming services. A specific example is, in the episode "The One with the Lesbian Wedding," scenes including the mention of LGBTQ+ are cut off. Nevertheless audiences are still able to find ways to view the uncensored episode. New media also allows audiences to post their own opinion and protest about the censorship in their social media handle. Angry fans took their complains to Weibo and trended the hashtag #FriendsCensored. But in spite of that, the Chinese government took down all posts related to the hashtag not long after that.
Postmodern media
Explain the knowledge and understanding needed by audiences in order to make sense of postmodern media texts. [15]
Plan:
P1 - Key characteristics of postmodern media text
Case Study: She Hulk: Attorney in law (2022) (Marvel Studios)
Intertextuality -> set design features a poster of the movie Legally Blonde (2002), main characters are both female lawyers + the mention of other Marvel female superhero, Lady Thor + She Hulk jumping out from the story world to the Disney hotstar homepage.
Self reflexivity -> She hulk is aware of the story world and the real world, she talks to the camera (breaking the 4th wall) and interact with producers of the series
Homage -> The Incredible Hulk (1978)
Parody -> Kevin Feige, the producer of Marvel (KEVIN the robot)
Common themes -> Sci-fi, future of technology
P2 - Audiences have to be able to distinguish which media text are heightened reality and which ones are hyper reality.
Case study: Heightened reality -> Our Planet (2019), reality shot in different angles and edited with music to deliver message and create empathy. Audience clearly know that the background music doesn't exist in reality.
Hyper reality -> The Kardashians (2022), highly scripted, audiences cant tell whether it's true or not
P3 - Simulation & simulacra
Case Study: Simulation -> Aespa's virtual reality, combine real life performances & AI environment and AI avatars. Aespa's album includes scannable images that is linked to a VR filter of Aespa's virtual world Kwangya. The virtual reality is an imitation something but audiences are aware that it's not real.
Simulacra -> Influencer reel persona, it's difficult to distinguish whether they're being their true selves or not (ex. the Kardashians having their hair and makeup done 24/7)
Theory: Richard Dyer’s theory of Stardom
Topic Sentence
P1 - In order to make sense of a postmodern media texts, audience will need an understanding of postmodern features such as intertextuality, self reflexivity and parody.
P2 - For audiences to fully understand the context of a post modern text, they’re required to be able to distinguish the difference between their reality, heightened reality and hyper reality.
P3 - Understanding the concept of simulation and simulacra is also essential for audience to be able to make sense a postmodern media text.
Power and the media
‘The media condition the way we think.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [15]
Plan:
P1 - Post colonialism theory by Paul Gilroy create negative stereotypes towards previously colonized countries and create the impression that white europeans are better than 'the others.'
Theory: George Gerbner's Cultivation Theory -> these representations effects the way audience perceive white people and 'the others'
Case study: The Crown (2016), the royal family are shown to be civilized and and sophisticated while the others are shown as poor and uncivilized through the mise-en-scene.
P2 - Post colonialism (again). Representation of white, British people in the media after the colonization to make them look superior and stay in power against the others.
Theory: Representation theory by Stuart Hall suggest that media does not reflect meaning, media creates meaning. Stereotypes are used as a result of a lack of diversity in production. Meaning is created by hegemonic groups (rich, white, straight men) in order to maintain power.
Case Study: Although Black Panther (2018) subverts postcolonialism with the positive representations of black people, it also conform the concept at the same time since Wakanda (the country of Black Panther) is a third world country and they are shown as the "other"ones.
White saviour-> Although the fight takes place in Wakanda, at the end it's the white man who saved the day.
P3 - Representation of women
Theory: Male gaze Theory by Laura Mulvey suggest that women are passive in a narrative, and their only purpose is as an object for the male characters to look upon.
This is shown through camerawork (angles, close-ups, slow movement), Mise-en-scene (revealing clothing), eye contact (sometimes looking at the camera directly)
Theory: David Gauntlett Identity Theory suggest that media plays an important role in shaping audiences' sense of identity. Girls that grew up consuming media texts that include male gaze may construct their own identity according to the biased portrayal of women on the media.
Case Study: Food Wars! (last season 2020), features female anime characters with big boobs and wide hips to satisfy male viewers. They feature montages of revealing the female character's body parts. The female characters contributed way less compared to the male character (which includes the main character).
Case study 2: Singles Inferno 2 (2022), a Netflix original South Korean TV shows included scenes with montages and close up of the female contestant body on revealing clothes such as bikini. Along with the non-diegtic background music it gives the impression that the female contestants are just a sexual object for the male contestants and male viewers to enjoy. On the other hand, the male contestants are portrayed as cool and strong guys with a suitable background music.
Topic Sentence
Intro - The media has the power to shape our perceptions and understanding of the world around us.
P1 - According to Paul Gilroy's post colonial theory, media promotes positive stereotypes of European countries and negative stereotypes towards previously colonized countries to condition how we perceive them.
P2 - Media are able to shape how we perceive a certain group of people by exhibiting representations of them.
P3 - Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory suggest that media often show women as objects to be looked at by men to reinforce the idea that women are there to be looked at and desired by men.
Paragraph
P1 - Post colonialism theory by Paul Gilroy suggest that most media is based on euro-centric world view. It includes the representation of white europeans to be civilized and sophisticated while 'the others,' previously colonized countries are shown with the stereotype of uncivilized and weak. In the Netflix show, 'The Crown' (2016), the royal family are portrayed as rich and sophisticated. This is shown by the mise-en-scene which includes expensive clothings, make up and the castle. They are surrounded by strong military member to show that the UK is a strong country. On the other hand, 'the others' are shown to be poor and uneducated by their unsophisticated outfit and poor living condition. According to the cultivation theory, these representations in the media effects the way audiences perceive white people and 'the others' in their mind by reinforcing the idea of white supremacy.
Section B: Media ecology
‘Given the dominance of global media, there are now few opportunities for local voices to be expressed.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [30]
Plan:
P1 -
P2 -
P3 -
Topic Sentence
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P3 -
May/June 2022
9607/42
Section A: Media Debates
Media regulation
Analyse the ways in which contemporary media regulation reflects its period. [15]
Plan:
P1 - Audiences’ value and moral changes.
Case study: It’s always sunny in Philadelphia - certain contents such as blackface on the character Dee Reynolds are viewed as entertainment in the past - in 2021 some episodes including blackface are banned as it is viewed as a racist/sensitive topic.
P2 -
P3 -
Topic Sentence
P1 - As time goes, audiences' societal value changes and this results in various adjustments to the media regulation.
P2 -
P3 -
Paragraph:
P1 - As time goes societal value changes and this results in various adjustments to the media regulation. Certain contents such as blackface that are viewed as entertainment in the past might be seen as offensive nowadays and vice versa. An example to this claim is the banning of 5 episodes of the American Sitcom 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.' The show is missing 5 episodes on streaming services (Netflix, Hulu and Disney+) due to the same controversial issue, blackface, brownface and yellowface. In the past despite the offensive contents, those episodes are still allowed to be aired on TV because it's seen as a form of entertainment. However, in 2021 after the premiere of season 15, some episodes were pulled out for being "insensitive." One of the writers of the show have acknowledged that the show sometimes goes too far in remarks. Though, the banning of these episodes have angered many fans as most of them believes that it's fine to air scenes with blackface as a satire. These days as audiences get more sensitive regarding the topic of racism, media regulations are altered to be stricter .
Postmodern media
Analyse the media text or texts which, for you, are essentially postmodern. [15]
Plan:
P1 - Key characteristics of postmodern media
P2 - Hyper reality & Heightened reality
P3 - Augmented reality (Simulation & Simulacra)
Topic Sentence
P1 - The Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) is considered as a postmodern media texts as it includes features of postmodernism such as intertextuality, self reflexivity and parody.
P2 - Another example of postmodern text is the documentary The World is My Oyster (2022) by HYBE Labels which can be considered as heightened reality which is a characteristic of postmodernism according to Baudrillard.
P3 - Another example of a postmodern media text would be Aespa's multiverse.
Paragraph
P3 - Another example of a postmodern media text would be Aespa's metaverse. Aespa's virtual world challenges our understanding of what is real by creating an immersive and surreal environment that blurs the lines between what is real and what is not. They made use of technological convergence to integrate real life and AI Avatars in their music video. Their AI avatars are an example of a simulation as they are imitations of Aespa's human members. SM Entertainment also created an augmented reality filter of their virtual world, Kwangya that allows fans to virtual walk into a portal through their phone screen. This is considered as simulacra as it's a representation of reality that never existed.
Power and the media
‘Digital media has enabled ordinary people to be as powerful as media companies in the production and distribution of persuasive messages.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [15]
Plan:
P1 - Sonic fandom
P2 - Social media allowing anyone to produce and distribute their own contents
P3 - Produce 48
Topic Sentence
P1 - New media has enabled audience members to directly affect the production of movies through online criticism.
P2 - With technological convergence anyone can produce & distribute their own media and even reach bigger audience compared to media companies.
P3 - Digital media has allowed audience to directly participate and interact with media text and help promote them.
Section B: Media ecology
To what extent have new technologies influenced the style and form of traditional media?
Plan:
P1 - Produce 48 (2019) allows prosumerism -> survival tv shows includes online voting to let audience participate in the production of the tv show -> broadcasted globally
P2 - Media becoming more accessible -> with vod streaming platforms we can consume media anywhere and anytime in a cheaper price (compared to movie tickets & television channel subscription) \
Case study: The shut down of Disney channel in SEA
P3 - More interactivity -> online magazines are more interactive than physical magazines -> the style of online magazines has adapted according to their audience
Case study: teen vogue -> more pictures & less texts
P4 - The use of VFX/CGI to create postmodern contents. The use of AR/VR to increase interactivity.
Case study: Aespa's concept and promotion
Topic Sentence
P1 - TV shows have become more interactive and globalized with the help of technological convergence.
P2 - As technology advances, consumers and media organizations are moving from traditional media towards new media.
P3 - Technology has a huge impact on the style and form of the magazine industry.
P4 - Technology has expanded the ways to produce and distribute media texts.
May/June 2021
9607/41
Section A: Media Debates
Media regulation
Evaluate the reasons for and against stricter media regulation. [15]
Topic Sentence
P1 - Media texts that are considered post modern includes features of postmodernism such as intertextuality, self reflexivity and parody.
P2 - According to Baudrillard’s theory of postmodernism, media texts that are considered post-modern includes simultaneous realities which includes hyper reality and heightened reality.
Postmodern media
Analyse the challenges of interpreting the postmodern text. [15]
Topic Sentence
P1 - In order to interpret a postmodern text audiences will need an understanding of postmodernism including the features of a postmodern text such as intertextuality, self reflexivity and parody
P2 - To understand the meaning to a postmodern text audiences need to be aware of the simultaneous realities and differentiate between their own reality, heightened reality and hyper reality.
Baudrillard believes that there are simultaneous realities, including reality, hyper reality and heightened reality and that audience prefer consuming media texts with the simulation of reality rather than doing them in their reality. Heightened reality texts includes reality that is filmed in different camera angles and edited with music to construct a certain meaning. For example the LE SSERAFIM's documentary "The World is Our Oyster" is a documentary about the behind-the-scenes of the making of the K-Pop group LE SSERAFIM. It is edited to make audience feel emphatic for their hard work and build emotional attachment towards the members. Another example is The Kardashian which is a hyper reality tv show. The show is highly scripted however, it is filmed and edited as if it's their real life. It includes simulacra which is a representation of reality that doesn't exist, in this case, the cast of The Kardashians are always wearing make up 24/7 which differs from the reality. Audiences may face challenges in figuring out what is the reality amongst heightened reality and hyper reality in media texts.
Power and the media
‘Audiences now have just as much power as media institutions.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [15]
Plan:
P1 - New media allowing normal people to give out their opinion to media companies (Prosumerism)
Case Study: Sonic fans were outraged by the new design of Sonic in the new Sonic the hedgehog (2020) movie and expressed their anger in Twitter. After receiving criticism Sega changed the design of Sonic throughout the movie.
Theory: Henry Jenkin's fandom theory argues that fan communities play an important role in shaping popular culture and that they can influence the media industry by creating demand for specific types of content.
P2 - YouTube creators producing and distributing their own contents and reaching a large audiences.
Theory: Technological convergence
Case Study: Mr Beast is now one of the biggest YouTuber. The average views of the Mr Beast channel reaches more than 80M views per video while the Fox News which is owned by a large media organisation, Fox Corporation, only reaches a few million views at most.
P3 - Audience are able to take part to construct the plot of interactive live series.
Case study: SAVE NCT DREAM is an interactive live series on the PUFF app and YouTube. The viewers are able to vote and decide what the members do.
Theory: Henry Jenkins' fandom theory emphasizes how media consumers engage with media content through their participation in fan communities.
Topic Sentence
P1 - New media allows prosumers to be a part of media production by providing them a platform (social media) to give out their opinion to media companies.
P2 - With the help of technological convergence, now anyone are able to produce, distribute and exhibit their own media text and even reach bigger audiences than large media corporations.
P3 - Thanks to the technology of interactive live streaming, now audience are able to interact and take part directly in deciding the plot of interactive live series like, SAVE NCT DREAM.
Section B: Media ecology
Analyse the significance of a particular technological development in the media. [30]
Plan:
P1 - Passive audience -> active audience, new media allows more interaction. Accessibility of informations, through internet especially social media)
Theory: Hypodermic needle theory -> Stuart Hall's Reception Theory & Blumler&Katz's Uses and gratification theory
(introduce digital divide)
P2 - From cinema to Netflix, how audience made use of new media during the pandemic.
(introduce the negative impacts also) (focus on audience)
P3 - Beyond live, how they still use the platform even after covid restrictions were lifted to maximize profits (focus on the business pov)
Online fansigns
P4 - Prosumerism in Produce 48, fans promote their own favs, globalization of kpop, online votings
Topic Sentence
P1 - Technological convergence have transformed the way we consume media content from passive to active.
P2 - Streaming platforms has introduced use to a more convenient and accessible way of consuming films.
P3 - New media has introduced an innovative way of holding online concerts/events.
P4 - Technological convergence has allowed audience to become prosumers and be able to interact actively with media texts more.
May/June 2021
9607/42
Section A: Media debates
Media regulation
‛New media require new forms of regulation.̕ To what extent do you agree with this statement?[15]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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Postmodern media
Evaluate the arguments for and against considering particular media texts as postmodern. [15]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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Power and the media
Analyse the ways in which particular representations of social groups may reflect the organisations
which produce them. [15]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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Section B: Media ecology
‛The media control how we understand and connect with the world.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? [30]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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October/November 2021
9607/04
Section A: Media debates
Media regulation
‘Media regulation is failing everyone.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [15]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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Postmodern media
Analyse the key characteristics of postmodern media. [15]
Topic Sentence
P1 - The key characteristics of a postmodern media texts includes the features of postmodernism such as intertextuality, self reflexivity and parody.
Power and the media
To what extent do the media represent people fully? [15]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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Section B: Media ecology
‘We talk about print, film, TV and radio as separate media, but these are all converging and will be impossible to tell apart in the future.’ Evaluate the evidence which supports this view. [30]
Plan:
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Topic Sentence
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