AS Media Studies: Key Media Concepts (TV Drama) Section A

AS G322: Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)

The purpose of these units is first to assess candidates’ media textual analysis skills and their understanding of the concept of representation using a short unseen moving image extract (AO1, AO2); second to assess candidates’ knowledge and understanding of media institutions and their production processes, distribution strategies, use of technologies and related issues concerning audience reception and consumption of media texts (AO1, AO2):

The examination is two hours (including 30 minutes for viewing and making notes on the moving image extract) and candidates are required to answer two compulsory questions. The unit is marked out of a total of 100, with each question marked out of 50.

There are two sections to this paper:

• Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation (50 marks)
• Section B: Institutions and Audiences (50 marks)
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Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation

An ‘unseen’ moving image extract with one compulsory question dealing with textual analysis of various technical aspects of the languages and conventions of moving image media. Candidates will be asked to link this analysis with a discussion of some aspect of representation within the sequence.

The moving image extract will be provided by OCR in DVD format, with full instructions for the administration of the examination, viewing conditions and note-making time. Centres must prepare candidates in advance of the examination, using a range of examples from texts from the genre stated below, to demonstrate textual analysis of all of the following technical areas of moving image language and conventions in relation to the unseen extract:

• Camera Angle, Shot, Movement and Composition
• Mise-en-Scène
• Editing
• Sound

The focus of study for Section A is the use of technical aspects of the moving image medium to create meaning for an audience, focussing on the creation of representations of specific social types, groups, events or places within the extract. It is not necessary to study the history of the genre specified. Centres should use examples of the genre specified with their candidates to prepare them for undertaking unseen textual analysis.

The unseen moving image extract will be four to five minutes long and will be from programme the following genre: 

TV Drama  

The sequence will be taken from a contemporary British one-off or series or serial drama.  

Guidance is given below regarding the administration of the examination. There will be viewing and 

note-making time for Section A. 

The timings and rules for viewing of extract and note-making will be explained.