YEAR 13 LESSON NINE [8th Oct 13]: Homework.

The aim of today's session was to offer essay feedback. Students were made aware of general mistakes made in the recent essay and how written work can be improved. Students were encouraged to:

• Improve their question focus.
• Respect language and ensure that an argument is presented in a coherent manner. The quality of PHRASING across the whole class DEFINITELY needs to improve. All students need to express their views in a more articulate and precise manner.
• Students must offer some form of critical evaluation. Students must support opinion with a much more convincing explanation that includes reference to a relevant media text. Too much writing in the first essay was vague and general.

The final section of the lesson involved a general class discussion relating to life in the sixth form. This is an intense year folks. It is difficult to offer any words that will provide comfort as this is a tough year. BIG decisions have to be made and students need to complete work and make sure that they are always offering a decent level of effort. If students feel that the the pressure is too great, perhaps students need to consider a less pressured career option. Year 13 have plenty of independent study and perhaps students need to manage this time in a more productive manner. Being in the Joint Sixth is not an easy option. 

Homework: Research the material that will provide the content for the essay that will be given to the class for homework at the end of the next session. See the blog entry for our last lesson to access the research material. THIS IS A BIG ESSAY.

YEAR 12 LESSON NINE [7th Oct 13]: Homework.

The aim of this lesson was to encourage students to offer more detailed critical analysis when offering a written response. After students had explained the CONNOTATION attached to there photography homework, the class analysed the UK newspaper front pages the day after the death of MT. Class discussion considered how institutional ideology mediates representation and the focus of the discussion was the front pages produced by THE DAILY MAIL and THE DAILY MIRROR.

THATCHER Reources:
http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/you-tube-aljazeera-httpwww.html
The class discussion considered the question:
What do learn about the link between institution and representation?

HOMEWORK: Students need to produce a written response to the question:
WHAT DO WE LEARN ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN INSTITUTION AND REPRESENTATION?
Students also need to digest the resources below and consider the nature of the representations being offered by these texts and how media forms are being used to shape connotation.These resources will be the focus of the next session. Students also need to complete their HSS 2014 trailers.
LOTS TO DO.

Did BGS allow this film to be placed on the school website? Is this a representation that the school would find acceptable?
http://vimeo.com/16121970

YOUR BEVERLEY IMAGES...Y12.

Year 12's homework task was to capture one single image of Beverley that represents the student's own individual idea of Beverley. We will be discussing these images in tomorrow's lesson. Students will be expected to explain why they believe that this frame represents their home town. Students will be expected to explain connotation, choice of composition, editing, and why they did not choose other images that represent the town.

YEAR 13 LESSON EIGHT [4th Oct 13]: Homework.

The whole aim of this session was to develop student awareness of possible content for the next IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDIA ESSAY which will be offered as a homework next week.

Resources for lesson:

ESSAY TITLE: WHY AND WITH WHAT SUCCESS ARE TRADITIONAL MEDIA INSTITUTIONS ADAPTING TO THE CHALLENGE OF NEW/DIGITAL MEDIA?

BBC Homepage:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
BBC News Site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
BBC Radio Five:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live
In Our Time site Radio Four:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl
BBC Radio Podcast resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts

PAYWALLS:
Rupert Murdoch and THE DAILY:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242283/Rupert-Murdochs-iPad-newspaper-The-Daily-closes-years.html
http://creativepool.com/magazine/features/why-did-murdochs-daily-ipad-newspaper-fail.1863?from=search:art%20director;;:550
News Now:
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/
STUDENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE PAYWALL ISSUE. WHY DO THE PAYWALLS ATTACHED TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND THE FINANCIAL TIMES appear to be working when a whole host of newspapers are failing with this business model????
PRIVATE EYE is making money:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/sep/11/private-eye-50?INTCMP=SRCH
Rupert Murdoch..how technology has changed the media:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQSKRWXyFw8
Murdoch on paywalls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae4Cy6xee2o
Adam Curtis explores Murdoch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxIb8PywcHA

MUSIC:
EMI....Shawn Fanning.....SPOTIFY...Traditional music institutions do not seem to be adapting to NDM!! The mp3 file has changed everything!!! Research required.
Napster doc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSpzW8bkkPc&feature=related
The history of Spotify:
http://evolver.fm/2012/03/22/a-short-history-of-spotifys-attempt-to-become-the-os-of-music/
SOUNDCLOUD? REVERBNATION? BANDCAMP?
This links to the AUDIENCE/PRODUCER DEBATE. The music industry has been transformed.

PUBLISHING. E-Books:
http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/self-publishing-e-book-a2-resources.html
Amanda Hocking:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jan/12/amanda-hocking-self-publishing

Digital companies are also struggling...see Wikipedia and MySpace..Bebo etc...
RESEARCH REQUIRED......

Homework: Students need to digest the resources that are posted to this blog entry as these texts will allow students to construct an informed and detailed response. THE HOMEWORK IS A RESEARCH HOMEWORK.
You lot were brilliant today. KEEP IT UP.
I will also be using the resources below in next week's sessions. We will be examining how media forms are used to shape the representation of teenagers.
MEST 3 Section A resource:
NHS drinking advert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkVqJTK0ioc
Adidas originals advertisement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDuiGzO0OS8
Juno Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0SKf0K3bxg

YEAR 12 LESSON EIGHT [3rd Oct 13]: Homework.

The aim of this session was to offer students the final hour of class time to complete the construction of their Humber Street Sesh trailers.

Homework: Students need to visit Le Cupboard de Voodoo and complete their creative work. I expect all work to be completed by the end of school next Thursday.

The second creative homework involves students capturing one still image of Beverley that represents your idea of Beverley. This photograph needs to be saved as a Jpeg and emailed to me. I will be using these images in the next lesson so students need to email their photograph to me before Monday morning. When capturing this image students should consider the framing of your image, your choice of shot [ close-up, long shot etc], and the connotation that students are trying to shape.
LOTS TO DO.

GOOD LUCK.

YEAR 12 LESSON SIX/SEVEN [26th/30th Sept 13]: Homework.

The aim of the first session was to provide students with the opportunity to produce creative media and develop film editing skills. Some of the work is very good. Keep it up.

The session on Monday 30th aimed to improve the quality of the written work. The first essays were handed back to students and the whole session attempted to address the issues raised by this written work. The main issues with the first essays was a lack of appropriate media language and a lack of specific textual reference when constructing a critical argument. Students were provided with exemplar material from Lord Lard of Mediaworld and class discussion considered how work could be improved.

The main textual focus of the lesson was the Channel Four advertisement MEET THE SUPERHUMANS which was used to promote Channel Four's coverage of last summer's Paralympic event. Class discussion considered how MEDIA FORMS are used to shape meaning and the representation of the paralympians.

HOMEWORK: The aim of the written homework is for students to improve their initial grade by at least one full grade. The questions are:

1. How are MEDIA FORMS used to shape meaning in Channel Four's advert 'MEET THE SUPERHUMANS'?
2. How are Paralympians represented in the Channel Four advert?
3. How is violence represented in the Kick-Ass trailer?

Here are links to both the media texts:

MEET THE SUPERHUMANS:  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuAPPeRg3Nw

The Kick-Ass trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5mxBaXHcFw

REMEMBER MEDIA FREAKS...you do not have to produce an extended response BUT you do need to use appropriate media language, identify key moments from the text when constructing an argument and explain why these key frames are so significant, and express your opinion in a coherent manner. Also, make sure your work is presented in a manner that reflects the fact that you are an A Level student. I will collect this written work before the next session.

Good Luck.

YEAR 13 LESSON SEVEN [27th Sept 13]: Homework.

The whole aim of this session was to prepare students for the first IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDIA essay. Students response was mature and informed. The kick up the backside that i gave you all in the last lesson appears to have had the desired effect. Class discussion was intelligent and detailed. The whole aim of this essay is for students to support their view with specific textual reference therefore students must be aware that research is central to this task...and indeed the whole course.

Students received a very precise essay structure that they can follow or use for general guidance. This is a very important piece of work because the essay question is central to an understanding of the impact of digital media.
ESSAY TITLE:  'THE INTERNET AND WORLDWIDE WEB HAVE CREATED A MORE DEMOCRATIC WORLD.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?

There are certain fundamental questions that this essay needs to address. For example:

• What is the difference between the views of Andrew Keen and Clay Shirky?
• What is the 2010 Digital Economy Act and what are its powers? Why was it introduced?
• What is The Communications Data Bill and why is it so controversial?
• Why are Bradley Manning and Ed Snowdon important individuals when considering media and democracy? Do you view these two men as heroic or villainous?
• What is the significance of websites such as 38 Degrees, Change.org, Martha Payne's blog and The Khan Academy website? Do these sites empower the individual? If so, how?
• Why should a media student be aware of The Arab Spring, Iran in 2009 and The Great Firewall of China?
• Why do governments attempt to control information?
• How can Marxist or Pluralist theory be applied to this essay? Baudrillard?

Below are a series of resources used in this session. ALL these resources will be useful for students when constructing the essay.

What is Wikileaks: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10757263
Wikileaks video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLic1Y3re-A
Does a site such as Wikileaks create a more democratic or a more dangerous world???
Edward Snowdon...Channel Four News resources: http://www.channel4.com/news/edward-snowden
What do we learn about the US government's attitude to personal digital privacy through the revelations revealed by Ed Snowdon?? Why do governments feel they have to control or monitor digital information?? Can we trust governments/the police with our personal information?? Should we fear this level of digital 'observation'?
Are Snowdon and Manning heroes or villains????

Good clip created by an A2 Media student for a class project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfDYARUrnuQ

The Virtual Revolution...The Enemy of the State:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcLP_Zn4dwU

Martha Payne: http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/story-of-martha-paynes-school-blog.html
Channel Four Marthe Payne article:
http://www.channel4.com/news/outcry-over-councils-gagging-of-schoolgirl-blogger
Change.org: https://www.change.org/en-GB
38 degrees: http://www.38degrees.org.uk/

Kenya tragedy and twitter:  http://socialmediatoday.com/node/1763491
Students could produce a whole paragraph discussing the democratic advantages/disadvantages related to Twitter.

HOMEWORK: I EXPECT ALL STUDENTS TO HAND ME THE ESSAY ON FRIDAY. This really is a massive piece of work as the consideration of media and democracy is a fundamental debate that is central to the A2 Media course. Students must illustrate an intelligent argument with specific and relevant textual reference. I have offered a range of resources, potential essay plan, and discussed this essay in two sessions. Now you need to show me that you are serious about this course. Talk is cheap. Show me you care.
Students also need to complete their creative work. Some of the trailers are FANTASTIC. If we can produce written work that reflects the quality of the creative media, this year will be a very successful media experience.

STUDENTS NEED TO CHECK THE RESOURCES POSTED TO FISHYMEDIA. ALL YOUR RESEARCH MATERIAL FOR THIS ESSAY CAN BE FOUND ON THIS BLOG. USE IT.
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