1. Research Investigation
20 % of A-Level Media

2. Research Investigation
Your essay must ;
-Use primary and secondary research
-Use quotations which are referenced in a bibliography
-Not make a statement which is not evidenced or backed
up by a source
-Link and inform your practical coursework
-Not exceed the maximum of 1800
-Be based on Genre, Representation, Narrative

3. Research Investigation
You
must
show
evidence
of;
Secondary research
Primary research
-Academic theories
-Detailed scene analysis
-Academic books
-Analysis of mode of address
-Reputable online resources
- Documentaries
- DVD extras
- E Books

4. A- grade criteria
Research will cover a wide range of
sources

5. A - grade criteria
Research will be applied correctly and
will successfully answer the students
question
+
=
answer

6. A - grade criteria
Quality of written work will be
sophisticated and contain appropriate
media terminology
Mode of address, representation, protagonist,
objectification, hyper reality, the male gaze, close up,
tracking shot, post modernist, patriarchal society,
cultivated, gratifications, scopophilia, stereotypical,
connotations, non diegetic, hegemonic, genre, narrative,
plot device, cultivated, audience, parody, homage,
editied, cut, linear, non linear, binary opposition,
polysemic narrative,

7. A - grade criteria
The essay will be sophisticatedly structured
Ø Title question
Ø Introduction with bite-size aims
Ø Aim 1
Ø Aim 2
Ø Aim 3
Ø Conclusion
Ø Bibliography
Each aim should link and follow on from one another.

8. Possible theories to assist answering your question
Students should use 2-3 theories
for an essay, suggestions;
Laura Mulvey – Male Gaze
Uses and Gratifications
Cultivation theory
Genre theory
Post Modernism theory
-Hyper-reality
Todorov – Narrative theory
Propp – Character roles
Binary opposition
Feminism/Post Feminism

9. Today;
Working + reviewing
our Introductions

10. Structuring your introduction
1- State your intentions
2 - Introduce your two texts
3 - Separate your investigation
into bite size chunks
4 - Introduce the theories you
plan to use

11. Student examples of stating intentions and texts
Example 1 -Tomb Raider' and 'The Hunger Games
“Within this investigation I will analyse how female
protagonist are represented in the action genre and
specifically the two texts 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' and 'The
Hunger Games”
Example 2 - Tom Ford and Chanel No.5
“The representation of woman changes drastically when
advertising a product to different genders. Through selling
aspirations, companies are able to sell products. I will prove
this with examples of Tom Ford and Chanel No.5s’ perfume
campaigns.

12. Student examples of creating bite size aims
Example 1 - Tomb Raider' and 'The Hunger Games
I firstly will explore the female protagonist’s reliance on
men, secondly I will investigate if their ideology and
mindset is relative to the present or some what dated? Lastly
I will discuss the representation of female body, are females
still being objectified, is a realistic body images being
projected and if so why is this the case?
Example 2 - Tom Ford and Chanel No.5
To prove this I will look at what the companies are selling
apart from the perfume, whether that be sex, ideology
or escapism. I will also research whether this advertising was
successful and whether the perfume products sold.

13. Student examples of introducing theory
Example 1 - Tomb Raider' and 'The Hunger Games
To help answer my investigation I will apply relative theory
such as the audience theory, uses and gratifications and
Laura Mulvey’s - The male gaze, which discusses female
representation.
Example 2 - Tom Ford and Chanel No.5
To do this I will apply specific theories, one being Laura
Mulvey’s theory of 'the male gaze' and how woman are
objectified to meet male aspirations, another being the
mirror stage and how this makes woman aspirer to be like
the woman they see in advertising campaigns such as
Chanel.

14. Use the A2 Media blog
to help you!
500 words by Friday!