Contextual Analysis Questions Approach

(questions 1-6/7)

I–D–E–A
Identify a production technique in relation to the question being asked.
If it is camerawork, identify a use of camera work. If it is editing, identify an editing technique. If it is
sound, identify a technique of sound. If it is typography, choose a style of typography within the text
given. If it is image construction, identify a technique of how the image has been put together, etc.

Describe the use of that technique, and how it is often used effectively in
media texts
Just a short sentence that brings in a clear understanding of your knowledge about the effectiveness
of the technique you have been asked to discuss.

Explain how that technique has been so effectively used specifically within
the text you have been given. You must explain the text you have been given!
This is the bulk of your answer, explaining, analysing, discussing how impactful, effective, meaningful
the technique that you have identified has been in the text, specifically.

Audience analysis and how it impacts them.

Please don’t waffle on, be precise and specific in your points.

10 marks requires 3 Case Studies, 20 mark require 4 Case Studies – use different genres.

 Introduction – reword the question into a sentence to lead into your answer.
 Explain why genres are created and how they differ in themes, to ensure audience interest.
 Discuss how audiences will have expectations due to historic conventions, but also
developments over time of how the genres have evolved in style and themes to maintain,
but also engage with new audiences.

 Case Study 1 – discuss the traditional, most recognisable conventions of your first chosen
genre, then analyse a media text from that genre (film, tv show, video game, music video)
 Case Study 2 – discuss the traditional, most recognisable conventions of your first chosen
genre, then analyse a media text from that genre (film, tv show, video game, music video)
 Case Study 3 – discuss the traditional, most recognisable conventions of your first chosen
genre, then analyse a media text from that genre (film, tv show, video game, music video)

 Final conclusion that ties in all the points about.

20 minutes max for a 10 marker

35 minutes max for a 20 marker

 Introduce your answer by rewording the question given, and discuss how integral narrative
structures are in engaging audiences with storylines in media texts.
 Discuss how linear and non-linear narrative structures are common approaches to telling
stories in sequential and non-sequential orders, and maybe link to some genres.
 Identify some examples of narrative structures and just briefly discuss them, and how
effective they are in creative story telling.
 Narrative Theorists – If you can, it is well worth mentioning some theorists, and their
narrative ideas. These could be Tzvetan Todorov, Claude Levi-Straus, Vladimir Propp. Please
don’t worry if you can’t remember these.

 Case Study 1 – Choose a media text (Film, TV show, Video Games) and discuss the narrative
structures that it uses in telling the story. You will need to focus on specific parts of the
storyline, and where the structure is used, and how effective it is in engaging the audience
with the story. Like above, please try and mention a theorist in your case study if you can.
 Case Study 2 – Choose a media text (Film, TV show, Video Games) and discuss the narrative
structures that it uses in telling the story. You will need to focus on specific parts of the
storyline, and where the structure is used, and how effective it is in engaging the audience
with the story. Like above, please try and mention a theorist in your case study if you can.
 Case Study 3 – Choose a media text (Film, TV show, Video Games) and discuss the narrative
structures that it uses in telling the story. You will need to focus on specific parts of the
storyline, and where the structure is used, and how effective it is in engaging the audience
with the story. Like above, please try and mention a theorist in your case study if you can.

 Final Conclusion which will just round up how impactful creative approaches to narrative
structures are in appealing to audiences and reinforcing genres
 Copycat Behaviour and Media Texts which Influence Audiences

 Introduction – Reword the question so that it allows you to lead into your answer which
should address how influential media texts can be in swaying audiences to think about things
in certain ways, behave in certain ways, do things because of the messages been read.
 Discuss some of the theories that explore how influential media texts can be in persuading
audiences. Theories such as the Hypodermic Needle Theory, Desensitisation, Moral Panics,
Active and Passive Audiences. They just need a little definition.

 Case Study 1 – Using any media text (Film, TV Show, Video Game, Music Video, Advert,
Magazine) analyse how the text has been constructed (production techniques) to influence
audiences to think or do something in a positive or negative way. Think about the technical,
written and symbolic codes within the text, and just how influential it can be in influencing
audiences.
 Case Study 2 – Using any media text (Film, TV Show, Video Game, Music Video, Advert,
Magazine) analyse how the text has been constructed (production techniques) to influence
audiences to think or do something in a positive or negative way. Think about the technical,
written and symbolic codes within the text, and just how influential it can be in influencing
audiences.
 Case Study 3 – Using any media text (Film, TV Show, Video Game, Music Video, Advert,
Magazine) analyse how the text has been constructed (production techniques) to influence
audiences to think or do something in a positive or negative way. Think about the technical,
written and symbolic codes within the text, and just how influential it can be in influencing
audiences.

 Final Conclusion – Conclude your answer by reiterating just how influential media texts can
be in persuading audiences to copy something, think something, believe something, do
something, depending on what the specifics of the question is asking of you.