This document provides guidance for students completing a critical investigation and linked production piece assignment. It outlines that the assignment consists of a 2000 word critical investigation (50% of the grade) exploring a contemporary media text, theme or issue and a related 5 minute maximum production piece (32% of grade). Students can complete individual or group work. The critical investigation should demonstrate an in-depth exploration and analysis of the chosen topic through appropriate research and sources. Suggested non-written formats for the investigation include a DVD commentary or wiki. The production piece should be linked to and informed by the critical investigation. Examples of possible topics and production pieces are provided. Guidance is given around group work, timelines, choosing appropriate topics and maintaining a

1. MEST 4
• Media: Research and Production
• 50% of the course (80 Marks)
• Two Sections: Critical Investigation (48
marks)
• Linked Production Piece (32 Marks).

3. Purpose
• The unit is intended to enable candidates to
explore a text, theme, issue or debate relevant
to the contemporary media landscape in
depth and use this exploration to inform their
production piece.
• (Contemporary – Within the last 5 years).

4. Group Work
• Where candidates are working in a group on a
production piece they may choose to produce
similar research studies or they may wish to focus
on different texts, themes, issues or debates
relevant to their chosen production piece.
• Groups could work on a sequence, opening titles
or short horror film yet investigates one of the
many different issues, themes and debates that
arise from the genre.

5. Critical Investigation
• You will be required to produce an individual
investigation which may be presented as a written
report of 2000 words.
• The critical investigation should be word processed (if
written) and a detailed bibliography/source list
provided citing both the primary texts (i.e. the texts
studied) and secondary sources (e.g. textbooks and
journals). Candidates should be aware that extensive
use of film review websites, for example, is not
encouraged as they rarely consider the text critically

6. Investigations can be presented in a
non-written format
• a DVD commentary approximately 10 minutes
long – including interview, commentary on key
sequences and analysis of existing material
• a wiki-based investigation of at least four
pages with links, analysis, comparison and
visual materials

7. Ideas for Critical Investigation
• Candidates should be ready to develop their
own interest and expertise and given the
opportunity to research and analyse those
area that have captured their interest and
or/imagination.
• Stay clear of representation

8. Key Points
• Research Essay:
• Does it allow candidates to explore the 5 Key Concepts?
• Does it negotiate an issue and/or debate? Is it contemporary?
• Is there a list of text(s)?
• Does it go beyond MEST3 topic areas?
• Is it synoptic? (presents a summary of views).
• Does it answer the question ‘why’ rather than ‘how’?
• Does it encourage independent research and critical autonomy?
• Is it truly individual?
• Does it avoid the cliché – (women in the media etc)
• Would it end up just being a list of facts?

9. Linked Production
• Critical Investigation area
• Gender representations in soap operas
• Linked Production
• The opening sequence for an episode of a new soap
Opera
• Critical Investigation area
• Viral marketing techniques
• Linked Production
• A viral advertisement suitable for distribution by
mobile phone
• Critical Investigation area
• Japanese anime
• Linked Production
• Trailer for a new anime film

10. Linked Production
• Critical Investigation area
• Contemporary men’s lifestyle magazines
• Linked Production
• Mock-up of the first edition of a new men’s lifestyle
Magazine
• Critical Investigation area
• Machinima and commercial game trailers
• Linked Production
• Machinima film for a new first-person shooter
computer game
• Critical Investigation area
• Shock jocks and local commercial radio stations
• Linked Production
• Opening section of a new late night ‘discussion’
programme for a local radio station

11. Length of Production Pieces
• Moving Images and audio work is not
expected to be longer than 5 minutes.
• Print or E-Media – At least three pages for an
individual candidate – more for a group
production.

12. Groupings
• Video Production – No more than groups of 4
• E-media/Print – No more than groups of 2
• You can work individually on this work.

13. Making Decisions
• You need to have some solid ideas by the end
of next week.
• You can come up with ideas for production
pieces first – then decide what aspect of the
production piece you can write about in your
critical investigation.

14. Examiner’s Tip
• Try not to choose something you’re a fan of unless
you’re absolutely sure that you are able to maintain
sufficient critical distance from your text.
• Many of the best studies are chosen with the head not
the heart.
• If you decide to choose a text you really like, think
carefully about exploring a second, contrasting, but
linked text as part of your secondary research – this
will help your reflect on the first text.

15. Text Point of Comparison Notes
Tribe, BBC documentary
fronted by Bruce Parry,
series 3, 2007
This documentary
predominantly examines
the behaviours of male
groups in tribes around the
world, as well as the roles
of women in the tribe.
Women’s experiences of
everyday life tend to get
less coverage than the men.
Might be interesting –more
positive representations of
men.
Local newspaper report on
teen gang crime spree.
An extremely negative
representation
Quite good to use news to
contrast with documentary.
This forms a really nice
cross-platform link.
Top Gear A more subtle text,
‘laddishness’?
Could be a challenge to
compare, but if managed
successfully could really tell
me something about
attitudes.
Case Study: Ross Kemp on Gangs – an investigation as to whether
representations of groups of mean in the media are always portrayed as
negative

16. Ideas for Research
• Narrative structural devices in post-modern texts;
• The superhero genre post-9/11;
• extreme-sports magazines and their niche marketing.
• Ugly Betty – What are the problems inherent in
portraying a word of fashion, aspired to by many
people, in a negative light?
• Boys don’t cry – how do the contemporary
documentaries Ross Kemp on Gangs and Tribe
represent masculinity
• How why do wildlife documentaries such as Water
Voles and Life in Cold Blood sustain the interest of BBC
audience in the digital age

17. Think Key Concepts/Debates
Audience
Institution
Digital Technology