This document provides instructions for a textual research assignment on film trailers from the superhero genre. Students are asked to research the narratives of 4-10 superhero films by accessing information on IMDB and watching trailers from a course blog. For each film, students must answer questions about the genre conventions present, the target audience, how the film fits the hero's journey model, whether it challenges or reinforces gender stereotypes, and 5 examples of how it entertains its audience. The work is to be completed and presented by the end of the lesson time.

1. AS Media Studies
Textual Research
This work will contribute to your coursework grade. The more film
trailers you answer questions on, the more detailed your answers, the
more marks you are likely to score.
You should use the lesson time today whilst not presenting to start this
research – the work should be presented at the completion of the lesson
time today.
Secondary research
Go to the link below, read the article, and answer the question
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhero
What are the conventions of the superhero genre ?
Film research questions
To answer the questions below you need to research into the narratives of
between 4 – 10 films FROM THE SUPERHERO GENRE and watch trailers
from these films
To research the narratives of the film, go to www.imdb.com and input the
name of the film
A range of trailers can be accessed through the course blog
http://asmediastudiescourseguide.blogspot.com
You must answer the set of questions below for each film
1. What genre conventions are present in each film?
2. Who is the target audience for each film? (Consider age, gender and
any other factor you consider relevant)
3. Does the film fit easily with Vogler’s model of the hero’s journey?
4. Does the challenge or reinforce gender stereotypes – where the men
do and the women watch and / or wait to be resuced?
5. List 5 specific examples of how each film seeks to entertain its target
audience