This is a brief, yet informative, document exploring A-level Media CSPs (Teen Vogue, The Voice, Sims Freeplay, Metroid, Tomb Raider, Oh Comely, Mens Health, Deutschland 83, Capital) - applied to theorist thinking.
It helped me significantly during my Summer 2023 A-Level exams, and I'm certain it...
02] In his analysis of the cultural industries, David Hesmondhalgh argues that the
increase in the number of media products has not necessarily increased diversity in
the media.
How valid do you find this argument about the media industries? You should refer to
the magazine Close Study Products Men’s Health and Oh Comely in your answer. (25
marks)
INTRODUCTION
● Definition
● Argument
● Context to CSPs
- Diversity in the media refers to the variation of different cultures/ideologies available in media products.
Mainstream media has intimidated media producers into not taking risks and producing content that has
proven to be already successful to maximise profits and sales. This has limited the amount of culturally
diverse media products released as they do not appeal to a mass audience. I will be exploring this in the
men's health magazine, produced by Hearse in 1995 targeting men who are interested in health and
fitness, and oh comely, first published in 2010, looking to empower women and break conventions of the
stereotypical female.
Paragraph 1
● Point
● Evidence
● Argument
● [Theory]
- The language used on the men's health front cover is aggressive and agrees with the masculine
conventions of men being strong.
- ‘Bun’ ‘slay’ ‘blast’ ‘war’ ‘ demolish’ - promoting ruthless and punitive performativity.
- Through stereotypical patriarchal ideologies, men are presented as being tough, hard, heartless,
dominant, strong, and powerful. Men's health recognises this and encourages men to have these
characteristics.
● Vin Diesel standing in a brooding position - celebrity content (star power)
● Horizontal integration to minimise competition. Hearst bought out Rodale which owned Men's Health,
buying competitors reduces competition and increases revenue
● Image of an elderly man- unconventional as mainstream media has represented health as only being
recognised in young people who are more fit and active. However, we see a man in his 60s running
marathons and breaking conventions, allowing older men to become more interested in their health and
fitness
● Oh comely male gaze front cover van zoonen - women are fully clothed and have short hair, not in a
position in a way that is sexualised. Medium headshot for all images of women, humanize them rather
degrading them as objects purely for the male gaze.
● Oh comely reps of women being intelligent - Farmah Mohammed is being referenced as hardworking ‘har
won wisdom’ on the front page bell hooks idea of feminism. Representing women as strong and capable
, are stereotypical masculine traits. Words like ‘mischieve’ ‘ideas’ ’power’ - are used on the front cover.
Words used typically to describe med are used to describe women in the magazine
● Women of different ethnic backgrounds are not being portrayed as a ‘loss cause’ bell hooks - farma
Mohammed, usually, people from places like Africa and Asia are stereotyped as being poor and from
famine and unintelligent however we see women from numerous backgrounds in the magazine being
positively represented.
● Women in the magazine are all overcoming a hurdle. (repair of disruption, new equilibrium)
0 4 Online media target audiences by constructing a range of representations of
different groups.
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Refer to the Close Study Products Teen Vogue and The Voice to support your answer
● Teen Vogue doing articles/collaborating with different artists (ie saucy santana gay male rapper)
● commenting on the laws of abortion in different states of America. - offering empowering information
and advice to women. Aiding them to speak out
● The voice represents black people as being successful
● The Voice only targets black people as their main aim is to empower them and provide a product that,
unlike mainstream, portrays a positive image of black people - created by val macala
Fictional genres represent social, cultural and political contexts to construct
an ideological position. To what extent does an analysis of your television Close Study
Products support this view?
Refer to both your Close Study Products in your answer: Capital and Deutschland 83
The fictional genres are based on untrue topics or events. Media products tend to base them on social cultural and
political contexts as it allows them to present an ideology amongst audiences. The two csps I will be referring to
are the capital, a UK series based on the rising tensions of the economic crisis on increasing values on housing
properties and immigration. Also Deutschland 83, a cold war espionage of germany spies revealing the truth
behind American plans and the conflict between the East and the West.
● Fiction - based on real-life events
● D83 hired experts to make the piece as historically accurate as possible - create a fandom of people who
enjoy historical pieces, engaging the audience
● Created so that America is the villain Propp
● West vs East ideologies - use of colours to present emotions/atmosphere
● The Capital is based on a novel set in 2007-8 on the issues of economic crisis, immigration, islamophobia
● Different cultural types are being presented ‘Muslim family’ subvert stereotypes
● The audience led to sympathise with both Quentina and Rodger due to circumstances
● The audience is positioned to view the Americans as villains and the Statsi as heroes in the plot.
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