MIGRAIN 3 Assessment - Learner response

 1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).

WWW: Muhammed, good attempt at analysing the unseen media products.

EBI: Too basic in terms of analysis and for Q2 - consider other media theories we have studied to comment on cultural + social contexts of representations in the media - other campaigns / adverts?

Mark: 9/20 (D)

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the number of marks you achieved for the two questions: _/8; _/12. If you didn't achieve full marks in a question, write a bullet point on what you may have missed.

1) 4/8

*The Carolina Herrera fragrance campaign reinforces traditional representations of gender

through a combination of factors including images, language and typography.

2) 5/12

*The campaign reinforces Judith Butler’s work in Gender Trouble – particularly the idea that gender is culturally and socially constructed – not ‘natural’. The construction of the adverts supports Butler’s idea that we are conditioned to adhere to social norms – both in terms of gender roles and heterosexuality.

3) For Question 2 on the social and cultural contexts of gender representations, identify three potential points in the mark scheme that you didn't include in your answer.

*David Gauntlett argues that masculinity is constantly evolving and social concerns that masculinity is ‘in crisis’ are exaggerated. However, this campaign does not provide particular evidence for an evolution in representations of men (aside perhaps from a lack of socks and no necktie). Indeed, this campaign reinforces classic masculine stereotypes and therefore perhaps provides evidence against Gauntlett’s theory.

*The female model arguably provides evidence for each element of van Zoonen’s theory regarding the representation of women. Here, she is clearly objectified, restricted to a secondary role (at the man’s feet), passive, framed to emphasise her sexuality and adhering to white western beauty standards. This could undoubtedly have an impact on media audiences and therefore influence social or cultural norms.

*The Carolina Herrara advertising campaign may be seen as an attempt to reclaim traditional gender roles in response to an increasing tolerance of gender fluidity and non-binary gender identity.

4) Having read the whole mark scheme, pick out one media theory that you didn't include in this assessment and summarise it briefly here so you can use it confidently in future.

Van Zoonen's theory - representation of women and how they are perceived and shown in and throughout the media in a sexualised and objectified way. 

5) Based on your experience in this assessment, identify three aspects of Media (e.g. skills/particular theories/examples) that you need to work on for your next assessment.

* One key aspect I need for my next media exam has to be my learning of the media theorists as I need to apply them specifically for the 12 markers so I can aim and reach those higher grades. 

* Second key aspect is making flashcards and using them to help me revise as it is a quick and simple way for me to revise and do well.

* Third key aspect is broadening my knowledge of the media around me so I could apply it for the 12 markers in assessments to show that I understand the question and can bring my own knowledge too justify my answers as well.