Baseline assessment learner response

 Baseline assessment learner response

Create a new blog post called 'Y13 baseline assessment learner response' and complete the following tasks:

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

• You start Q2 brilliantly with an excellent focus on the question, the CSPs, and the contexts you are being asked to discuss.

• Q1 is all about question focus: semiotics, connotations, and myth. Revise this but more importantly, stay 100% focused on the question in an unseen task.

2) Focusing on the unseen question 1, pick out three bullet points on the anticipated content and link each point to the three aspects of the question - denotation, connotation, myth. 

• the connotations of the image with reference to USA’s national identity through the

burning flag and the reference to the Western genre

• the construction of myth through the use of signs – the lone, charismatic American

hero, violent but thoughtful and reflective.

• concept of the US as born out of violence (in flames).

3) Look at the anticipated content for the 25-mark Magazines question. Pick out three points on GQ and three on The Gentlewoman that you think are particularly interesting for this question on social and cultural contexts.

• GQ could be seen as a clear example of the way media producers respond to changing social

and cultural contexts – a magazine that has explicitly attempted to redefine modern

masculinity.

• Global Editorial Director Will Welch has championed a ‘New Masculinity’ that has seen cover

shoots that challenge gender stereotypes and a move away from style advice to self-

expression.

GQ supports David Gauntlett’s view that the mass media is a force for change and is actively

liberalising society – he talks of a “slow and steady process of change and transformation”.

This would support the idea that as the mainstream media and corporations become more

‘woke’ that brands need to move with this social and cultural change.

• CSP edition front cover features Scarlett Johansson but construction of cover certainly

reflects the changing social and cultural contexts both in terms of media language and

representation of celebrity. The cover lacks the typical conventions of a magazine cover – no

cover lines aside from the celebrity’s name – and the cover image is unusual. A tight close-

up with exaggerated make-up shot slightly from below offers an fresh and unusual

representation of a female Hollywood star.

• CSP edition features also suggest producers are responding to changing social and cultural

contexts. Ramla Ali boxing feature offers a working class woman from a minority group

talking about her strength and what it is like to be punched. Isabella Tree rewilding feature

reflects changes in attitudes towards the environment and climate change, a key interest for

younger demographics in particular. Finally, the Stella McCartney feature on a vegan

handbag also reflects social and cultural changes in society.

• In contrast, it could also be argued that these features do not represent a huge social and

cultural change and in fact offer more of a reflection of The Gentlewoman’s upper middle

class, wealthy typical reader. The Gentlewoman Club reinforces this, an exclusive series of

events where attendees are hand-picked by Penny Martin and take place in conjunction with

luxury brands. The pretension and privilege in the Gentlewoman is nothing new, just

repackaged for a new generation.

4) Write a full essay plan for the 25-mark Magazines question. The mark scheme contains plenty of ideas you can use here. Your plan should include notes/bullet points addressing the following:

• Introduction: one sentence answering the original question and laying out your argument clearly.
• GQ and Gentlewomen both explore social and political context really well.
• Paragraph 1 content:
• On GQ and how it has adapted itself to todays society like embracing the new masculinity.
• David Gauntlett's views of gender
• Paragraph 2 content:
• How GQ shows this change through moving from popular muscular male actors to show a new version of masculinity.
• bell hooks normalised traumatisation 
• Paragraph 3 content:
• How Gentlewomen portray women in this current society and how Penny Martin has influenced change.
• Clay Shirky end of audience
• Paragraph 4 content:
• Gentlewomen new club and social media presence.
• Conclusion: sum up your argument a final time in one sentence
• These two magazines have adapted themselves to current society .

5) Finally, identify three key skills/topics you want to work on in A Level Media this year before the final exams in June.

• More information using the unseen
• Use more of the CSP
• Write more and explain in detail.