OCR A2 Media Studies, Media and Collective Identity

1. Comparing Historical
and Contemporary
Representations
Lesson Objectives: To be able to compare
the way in which youth is represented in
historical and contemporary media.

2. Who am I?
 I was an Italian political thinker. (20)
 I was interested in the way one social
class is able to dominate society. (10)
 I developed the concept of hegemony.
(5)
 I AM GRAMSCI.

3. Who am I?
 I am interested in youth subcultures.
(20)
 I wrote a book about the importance
of style to youth subcultures. (10)
 I believe media representations of
young people portray them as either
fun or trouble. (5)
 I AM HEBDIGE.

4. Who am I?
 I’m interested in the effects of media
representations of delinquent youth.
(20)
 I developed the concept of the
ideology of protection. (10)
 I think media representations of anti-
social youth reinforces hegemony. (5)
 I AM ACLAND.

5. Who am I?
 I researched the effect of television on
viewers. (20)
 I think that the repetitive nature of
television means that over time
television influences how people see
the world. (10)
 I call this cultivation theory. (5)
 I’M GERBNER OF COURSE.

6. Who am I?
 I’m a Marxist. (20)
 I consider how the state maintains
control. (15)
 I developed the concepts of
ideological and repressive state
apparatus. (10)
 I killed my wife. (5)
 KEEP BACK I’M ALTHUSSER.

7.  How far does the representation of a
particular social group change over
time? Refer to at least two media in
your answer.

8.  Level 4
 Explanation/analysis/argument (16-20 marks)
 Candidates adapt their learning to the specific requirements of the chosen
question in excellent fashion and make connections in order to present a
coherent argument. The answer offers a clear, fluent balance of media
theories and knowledge of industries and texts and informed personal
engagement with issues and debates.
 Use of examples (16-20 marks)
 Examples of theories, texts and industry knowledge are clearly connected
together in the answer. History and the future are integrated into the
discussion with conviction.
 Use of terminology (8-10 marks)
 Throughout the answer, material presented is informed by contemporary
media theory and the command of the appropriate conceptual and
theoretical language is excellent.
 Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of
writing appropriate to the complex subject matter. Sentences and
paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured, using
appropriate technical terminology. There may be few, if any, errors of
spelling, punctuation and grammar.

9. Historical Representations
 ‘Rebel Without a Cause’
How were young people represented?
What ideological messages are
communicated by the representation?
To what extent do representations
construct identity?
Remember to
relate
representations
to relevant
theory.

10. Contemporary
Representations
 Films – ‘Attack the Block’, ‘The Selfish
Giant’, hoodie cinema
 Television – ‘Misfits
 Newspapers – ‘Hoodies or Altar Boys’
study
How are young people represented?
What are the ideological implications of these representations?
THEORY

11. Comparing Representations
 What are the similarities between
historical and contemporary
representations?
 What are the differences?
 What ideological reasons might there
be for this?

12. Structure
 Introduction
 State your
argument
 Identify texts
 Section 1 –
analysis of
historical
representations
 Section 2 –
Hoodies or Altar
Boys/Hoodie
cinema
 Section 3 –
Misfits/Attack the
Block/The Selfish
Giant
 Conclusion
 Return to your
argument
 What have you
demonstrated
 Prediction for the
future

13. Argument
 What might your argument be in
answer to this question?
How far does the representation of a particular social
group change over time? Refer to at least two media
in your answer.

14. Introduction
 Quote/paraphrase/explain – link to
argument

15. Rebel Without a Cause
 How are young people represented?
- link to theory
 What are the ideological messages –
link to theory?
 Signpost links to contemporary texts.
 To what extent does the
representation influence perceptions
of identity?

16. Hoodies or Altar
Boys/Hoodie Cinema
 Mid to late 2000s moral panic about ‘Broken Britain’
reflected in newspapers (Hoodies or Altar Boys study)
and films (Hoodie cinema).
 How are young people represented? – link to theory.
 Why are young people represented in this way? – link to
theory.
 Relate to historical representations – similar/different?
 How much do these representations influence
perceptions of youth?

17. Contemporary Film and TV
 Media representations of youth are
complex/contradictory – plurality of
representations.
 Hegemony – site of constant struggle
– Gramsci.
 Representations like Misfits, Attack
the Block, The Selfish Giant can be
seen as responses to negative
discourse around youth.

18. Contemporary Film and TV
 How are young people represented? –
link to theory.
 Why are they represented like this –
ideological implications – link to theory
– link to other representations.
 Compare to historical representations.
 To what extent do these
representations influence
understanding of identity.

19. Conclusion
 Sum up your argument – ANSWER
THE QUESTION.
How are young people represented?
How much does this change over
time?
Ideological implications – THEORIES.
Predictions for the future.

20. Planning
 Focus on one section of the essay. What key
points would you make? What theorists would
you refer to? How would you relate your
discussion to your argument?
 In each section you need to:
 Explain how young people are represented with
some examples – relate this to theory
 Consider the ideological implications of the
representation – linked to theory
 Compare the representation to other texts.
 Refer to question – extent of change over time
 Link to argument about influence of
representations

21. Essay Plan
 Write the introduction and conclusion
for this essay.
 Bullet point key points and examples
for the two sections of the essay.
How far does the representation of a particular social group
change over time? Refer to at least two media in your
answer.

22. Checklist
 Does your answer:
Refer to at least 2 different media
Develop a clear argument
Refer to theory and texts
Make links between texts, and
theories
Use terminology