Coursework review - 1

WJEC MS3:
Media Investigation and Production

Mark Scheme:

Level 4: 36-45

• Research will be excellent, covering a wide range of sources.
• These will be analysed and applied in a sophisticated way and presented a logical and coherent manner, supported by a range of sophisticated points.
• Quality of written communication will be sophisticated.
• A high degree of accuracy.
• Sophisticated ability to structure ideas effectively.
  
  Everyone has been set their own task this week in relation to the coursework.
  
  For those whom I said should start writing the introduction this is what it should contain...
  
  Your essay should contain a clear introduction in which you:
  
  
  

  • Clearly state the focus of your investigation
  • Explain the stereotypes/genre types/typical narratives relevant to your research and how your investigation will explore the positives/negatives or how texts conform to/challenge them
  • Give reasons for your choice of texts
  • Set up the main argument of your essay

  
  Some key elements
  

  1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the question you have set for yourself. Clear demonstration of knowledge of Genre/ representation/ narrative. A good idea is to use a quote.
  2. In addition provide short but key knowledge on the specific subject area to are looking into (eg. Body image)
  3. Your hypothesis - what you expect to find. 
  4. be clear about your objectives - what and how you will be 'exploring' or 'investigating' or 'comparing' or 'challenging'. This includes what texts you are using and why you chose them and perhaps some theories/ techniques you plan to use (eg. using questionnaires or Ariel Levy)

  
  
  
  

  EXAMPLE

  An exploration into the representation of “Black Beauty” amongst black women in documentaries

  For my project, I will be exploring how the concept of “Black Beauty” amongst black women is represented within two documentaries and whether black women’s beauty is represented in a traditional, or a contemporary light. I will be analysing the My Black Is Beautiful’s “Imagine A Future” documentary (2013) and Chris Rock’s “Good Hair” documentary (2009). I believe that that these two documentaries will reinforce the stereotypical representation of black women; constructing the individuals within as pitied characters; characters only to be sympathised with[U1] .

  *extended Intro/context/background/setting up the main argument*

  
  
  
  

  The concept of “Black Beauty” is one of rivalling debate within the black community. The dissension lies in whether a black woman is to embrace her natural, God given beauty, or to conform to the pressures of cultural imperialism, reinforced by media: altering hair and skin pigment for the purpose for aesthetic beauty. The debate, arguably rooting from slavery[U2] , has left an entire race divided. In today’s appearance driven and highly sexualised culture, the standards and silhouettes of beauty are perpetuated by celebrity culture. Naomi Wolf comments on this overt sexualisation of today’s women in her book “The Beauty Myth”, echoing a feminist perspective. She explains “To live in a culture in which women are routinely naked where men aren't is to learn inequality in little ways all day long.[1][U3] ” 

  
  
  
  

  Statistics show [U4] that that woman take a back seat to men within the working world, with women only occupying on average 30.9% of ‘top jobs’ across 11 sectors[2]. However, to consider the idea that embracing your natural beauty would be a detriment to success is worrying at best. It’s illustrated best in Laura Mulvey’s theory of the ‘Male Gaze’, “founded on the Marxist criticism of the economic and social structure that perpetuates a patriarchal power base”[3][U5] . She suggests that the gaze denies women human identity, relegating them to the status of objects to be admired[4], most often than not, a ‘Caucasian’ object. The hegemonic[U6]  ideologies created within our society, through this gaze[5], is proving difficult to challenge with only around 16% of media creators being female[6].