1B exemplar analysis

Allocate marks as follows

14/25

Explanation, analysis argument  (max 10) 7

Examples (Max 10) 5

Terminology (Max 5) 2

What would you award for the analysis

In question 1(b) you must write about one of your media productions.
(b) Apply the concept of representation to one of your coursework productions [25]

The issue of representation refers to the portrayal of people, actions and events through the medium’ of the media’. The issue often surrounds itself with topics involving; Race, Age and gender.
The main task set out to us through the A2 period of my course was the production of a music video, to accompany a song of our choice. The song I chose was ‘Evening/Morning’ by ‘Bomay Cycle Club’, with the chosen genre being Indie. Following the conventions of my genre, I chose to portray a narrative based music video with the narrative basing itself around the story of a boy and a girl going on a date. The narrative centres itself on how the pair prepare themselves, and the issue of gender representation is clear throughout.
One theorist that can be applied to my music video is Laura Mulvey and her theory of the Male Gaze. This theory surrounds itself with the voyeuristic nature of the media, with regards to the objectification of females, and the pleasure that a male viewer may get when watching the video.
This theory can be applied to my video in a number of different ways. Firstly, the inclusion of the female character
in itself immediately applies that the Male Gaze may be relevant. The very presence of a female character is likely to lead some males into watching the video purely to see the female presence. Furthermore, the idea that the camera has been placed by the director in her house suggests that the society is quite intimate. The camera trails the female around her house, which impedes on her personal space are suggests the idea of voyeurism, to watch for pleasure, within the video. Furthermore, the practice of cutting back and forth between her as she changes clothes is very invasive of her privacy. This stage is considered quite a personal aspect of a girls life, and the fact that the male audience is able to see this firmly suggests that the female character is being represented as a visual object. Comparatively, the male temari in the sake outfit as the temari still. The camera remains stationary and as a result personal space is not really intruded on with regards to the male. The constant presentation of long shots onto the male, compared to close ups on the female highlights this further, suggesting a much more provocative and involving view of the female, representing her clearly as a sexual object.
A second theory that can be applied to my music video was suggested by Antonio Gramsci. His theory is centred around the lack of dominant ideololgies within society, and the presence of hegemonic norms.
This theory is relevent to my video in a number of ways. Firstly with regards to the male character, he is represented as an uncaring and as a result, quite macho manly figure. He remains stationary and playing video games, making little effort to prepare for the date. Comparatively, the female character spends the majority of the video rushing around preparing for the date, clearly with a look of stress and excitement. This represents a dominant ideology heartfelt, loving caring figures, whereas male characters are often much less romantically involved and are much more focused on other things. As mentioned, the representation of women as voyeuristic sex objects is also considered a dominant ideology within society, a trait often played on by the media.

In conclusion, as suggested, my video included a number of features which can be discussed in terms of representational issues, perhaps note more so then the representation of women as an object of men’s sexual pleasure.

I gave this essay 14/25 as the candidate coherently explains their points but sadly only focuses on one area of representation limiting themselves to the amount of theory available for them to use. The candidate also doesn't give many different examples only referencing their own video not comparing with other media texts to show how they have reinforced or challenged the modes of representation.