Media Studies Revision Example Questions and Answers

Answer all three questions using examples from the extract. 1. Explain two ways in which the extract fits the genre of lifestyle magazines. 2. Give one example of each of the following and explain how it is used in the extracts to create effect: Layout Typography Use of language Use of images 3. Discuss how people and/or masculinity are represented in the extract. [10] [20] [20]

For questions 1, 2 and 3 you will be provided with an extract from a lifestyle magazine (cover, contents page, double page article). It could be from any genre and may not be a magazine you have studied in class.   Your answers for questions 1, 2 and 3 should refer in detail to the extract you have been provided with, giving examples from the extract to back up your point. This revision guide will work through the questions in order and refer to an example magazine cover. This magazine will probably not be the one you will receive in the exam, so you should take the points made in this guide and adapt and apply them to other magazines while revising.

Answer the following question using Television and/or Radio Comedy programmes you have studied. 4. Pick two TV or Radio comedies you have studied. a) Discuss why they were scheduled: On the channels that chose them On the days and times they were transmitted b) Show how these two programmes offer their audiences different pleasures [15] [15] [Total Marks = 80]

Public Service Broadcasting American programmes can be imported at a fraction of the cost of making your own programmes Many commercial channels are full of American programmes but BBC1, BBC2, Channel 4 and FIVE are dominated by British programmes PSB channels do not aim to make a profit Example PSB rules: Must make quality programmes Must have a high proportion of British-made programmes Must reflect diversity of Britain Proportion of programmes must be made outside of London Mix of genres of programmes No stripped schedules

Public Service Broadcasting Any comedy programme made in Britain and that reflects the diversity of British culture, or say something about Britain today, fits in with Public Service Broadcasting Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps is set in Runcorn; a town not often represented on television and so fits the BBC’s PSB obligations Goodness Gracious Me reflects the experience of British Indians, again not so often represented in British television, so again fits in with the BBC’s obligations Friends is neither British or about Britishness, so it can be repeated in blocks in a stripped schedule on E4, a non-PSB channel, but not on Channel 4

BBC-Have I Got News For You CASE STUDY: BBC-Have I Got News For You Have I Got News For You currently has the following schedule: BBC1 Thursdays 9:00pm Have I Got News For You proved popular on BBC2 (niche, upmarket audience, knowledge building programmes, comedy, drama & arts) so was moved to BBC1 (mass audience, popular programmes) It is an entertaining programme for a fairly wide audience It aims to entertain and inform as it is a comedy programme, but about current affairs

CASE STUDY: E4-The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory is currently schedules using a “stripped” schedule. It shows two consecutive episode at three times during the day: E4 Weekdays 2:00pm & 2:30pm 6:00pm & 6:30pm 8:00pm and/or 8:30pm and/or 9:00pm E4 is a young channel that like Channel 4, aims to be more daring and exciting than its competitors The Big Bang Theory fits the channels image by being popular, entertaining but a little quirky and not too mainstream The Big Bang Theory attracts the right target audience and its fresh and different enough to fit E4’s brand image

SCHEDULING Have I Got News For You 9:00pm is BBC ONE’s premier slot on weekdays including other popular shows like The Apprentice (Wednesday) Slots before Have I Got News For You (8:00pm-9:00pm) show programmes like Eastenders. The slot after is another comedy such as Live at the Apollo making 9:00pm- 10:00pm a regular comedy slot. Suggests that Have I Got News For You is being aimed at a large mainstream audience that likes to wind down their evening with some comedy Scheduled just after the ‘watershed’ so it is allowed to feature adult content, which is important for a topical news programme

SCHEDULING The Big Bang Theory The midday slot is part of the rolling programme of repeats that E4 fills its daytime schedules with The double showing of The Big Bang Theory at 6pm kicks off the evening schedule. It is followed by the first showing of Hollyoaks (shown on Channel 4 the following day), which is the channels biggest show when it comes to ratings The slot is hotly contested with teenage viewers up against The Simpsons and Hollyoaks on Channel 4 and Home & Away on FIVE The Big Bang Theory is scheduled before the watershed so it has to suitable for children. However it may contain some sexual content it is not sexually explicit and doesn't’t contain high amount of bad language. Though it is a slick and reasonably adult comedy that would appeal to a teenage audience

Audience: The average audience for The Big Bang Theory is probably younger than the average audience for Have I Got News For You Have I Got News For You is aimed at people who find interest in the news because it features current affairs and political content, so it addresses people who may be more like to read the newspapers Have I Got News For You’s panelists are older than the main characters in The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory is aimed at a younger adult audience. It is fast paced, has young adult characters, often incorporates rock, pop and indie music and the visual; style is similar to other sitcoms that are aimed at young adult audiences such as Everybody Hates Chris

Audience Pleasures: Reasons that the viewer might chose to watch the programme: Narrative resolution (episode or series) Relating to the characters Entertainment/Comedic effect Gratification (making you feel good) Content/Themes

Audience Pleasures: Have I Got News For You Comedy panel game Panelists play themselves Unscripted (though it is edited) Panelists answer questions in different rounds in order to win points, although this is far less important than the comedy aspect The humor comes from attacking the stupidity of people and events that are in the news

Audience Pleasures: The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory is a situation comedy Actors play characters It is scripted The Big Bang Theory has a narrative which is resolved at the end of the episode The humor comes from everyday situations