Preparing for the SAC NEW SAC DATE: MONDAY 15 th August 2011

SAC and EXAM success In order to succeed with the SAC and the November Examination, you will need to have a very strong understanding of the following: Events from the production period (America 1980’s) How these events helped shape the dominant, emerging, alternative and oppositional social values of 1980’s America How these social values influenced the content of the text (storyline, themes, main ideas) How these social values are embodied in representations from the text in the form of characters, institutions and relationships. How these representations have been constructed with the use of codes and conventions (costume, lighting, mise-en-scene, camera techniques, editing, music, dialogue, set design, acting) Whether the text supports or challenges the dominant social values of the production period

Events from Production Period How social values have been shaped by these events How these social values have shaped the content of the text How representations in the text have been constructed The extent to which the text supports and/or challenges these values How representations within the text reflect the social values of the production period

Key factors in SAC and Exam success PRODUCTION PERIOD Although this is not a study of history, it is important that you can write authoritatively about the time and place in which your text was created. Don't make simplistic, generalised or unjustifiable statements. The class wiki has been developed to help you write with authority and authenticity about American values in the 1980’s – use it!

Linking these events to social values of the time… When examining America 1980’s, we can draw parallels between key events and how the attitudes and beliefs of people within that society have been influenced due to these events. For example, the 80’s signified a time for dramatic change in technological and scientific advancement in America, with the development of new fission technologies playing heavily on the minds of the public. These developments, along with the intensification of the Cold War between the USA and USSR and the production of more nuclear weapons, consequently brought great fear and uncertainty in the minds of the people. These values and attitudes were expressed in media products of the time (EG: Films like The China Syndrome represented the fear of fission technologies as a nuclear plant threatens to explode killing millions of people.)

How do these social values influence the content of the text? Now that we have seen how the social values have been created or influenced, we can apply these social values to the production of the film Aliens. When asked about the content of the text, the question is referring to things like the storyline, plot, main themes or ideas, and characters. You need to discuss more than just a characters representation to satisfy the requirements of a question like this. For example…

Example of student work: “While many of the social values are predominantly exposed through characters and their relationships, the overall storyline of the film is reflective of the lust for greed by many corporations in America in the 1980’s. In the film, the ‘mission’s’ purpose was to eliminate the alien threat. This can be seen as symbolic of capitalist America’s binary opposition to the communist USSR and their involvement in the Cold War. As the film progresses, there is a volatile reactor which threatens the lives of the crew, this is symbolic of the value developed as a result of the Cold War’s arms race, “that fission technology and its development will cause harm”. During this scene there is also a failure in leadership representational of the overall Reagan presidency.”

How are the social values represented? Once we have acknowledged how the content of the text has been influenced, we look more specifically at representations of characters (like Ripley), relationships between characters (like Ripley and Bishop), and institutions (such as governments – ‘the company’). For example, we can clearly see the main social values that Ripley’s character represents through her construction: - That women are equal to men and are just as capable at getting the job done - That women are nurturing and maternal - That technology is advancing too quickly and will ultimately lead to harm

How are these representations constructed? We need to look in detail as to how these representations have been constructed. It is not enough to simply say the tense relationship that Ripley has with Bishop represents the social value that science is evolving too quickly. We need to look at all elements of the representation and use examples from the film to back up our responses. You are expected to discuss the construction with reference to the following: costume and props, acting, camera techniques, mise-en-scene, lighting, music, dialogue, and visual editing.

How does the text support and/or challenge the dominant values? We can now examine this representation critically and observe whether the film is supporting or challenging the value. Often the views of the director (which have been influenced by the social values of the production period) will make their way into the film in the form of characters. Usually we can assume that when a character is ‘punished’ (by death, or by the main protagonist), the values that they hold are being challenged by the director. For example, Burke is ultimately punished in the text when he tries to escape the Aliens, but ends up being trapped with one and presumably killed. His character stands for the greed and corporate gain in the film, and through his treatment, we can see how the film is challenging these values related to greed and corporations. In the same light, when a character is rewarded, or when they are easily identifiable with the audience, we can assume that the values that they hold are being supported. For example, Ripley is the main protagonist in the film, and ultimately becomes the heroin. She is strong and capable, and does not need a ‘man’ to protect or ‘save’ her (most of the time!). We can draw links between this representation and Cameron’s ultimate support for the emerging social value that women are just as capable as men at getting the job done/performing the same roles.

Basic SAC advice… Use reading time wisely (Plan out each response. Which social value you will discuss, if there are questions you need to follow on from, how many marks allocated to each question, etc). Use all of the space provided (If the response leaves you 10 lines, you are expected to fill all of the space). Write clearly in a blue or black pen (Write neatly and make sure you write to the edge of the page to maximise your allocated space). Give yourself time (Allocate around 1.5 minutes per mark so you have time to answer every question and read over every response at the conclusion of the SAC to make any last minute amendments. So, if a question is worth 4 marks, aim to finish it in 6 minutes).

GOOD LUCK BOYS! STUDY HARD! Use that extra time on the weekend to study up and complete practice questions!