S4 - Internet Meme's

A "Meme" is a unit of cultural information. It spreads through ideas. These used to be important to the development of our civilizations. Nowadays, memes are important to show us cats.

The earliest known lolcat - 1870 (no joke!)

You know memes, even if you don't know that's what they're called. They're spread through social networking, text, word of mouth, South Park episodes and email - basically, every way we use media to communicate.
Sometimes, they're just created by one person and they spread by themselves, usually for entertainment.
Sometimes, they're created by an Institution to advertise a product, service or brand.
Sometimes... they can impact the entire world! (Do a google search for "Mitt Romney Binders full of women")

Your task today is as follows - do a little research on Internet Meme's. Find out what an "image macro" is. Just how stylish is "Gangnam Style"? Who was Rick and why was he rolling? Do all your base really belong to me? Who is Leeeeeroooyyy Jennnnkiiinnnnnssss? Beware - websense will try and block you every step of the way; It's only trying to help. Keep going.

Once you think you've got a handle on the World of Memes - try and create your own.
The first person to get on South Park gets a credit stamp.

WE WILL REVIEW YOUR MEME'S ON WEDNESDAY!


The following was an early internet meme - reported to be an actual conversation between an American Navy Commander and a Canadian... Unfortunately, it's not true. Still good though.

This is the transcript of a radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95.

Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a Collision.

Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.

Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.

Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that YOU change your course 15 degrees north, that's one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.^[2]

S5/6 - Shaun of the Dead task.

Below are some examples of Fan Art for Shaun of the Dead.
Notice how several images and ideas keep cropping up - these are important Codes (Key Aspect: Language) and show strong Representations of the characters.

List as many of these common codes as you can, and then create your own Fan Art for Shaun of the Dead.

6th November - S4 Media Studies

You can find copies of Int 1 Past Papers here.

Please take this one and answer all of the questions in PART 1 in your Jotters.

If you finish, you may attempt PART 2, QUESTION 3.

This will require you to create a Storyboard and then explain your answers. You must use media terms to get marks.

We will go over your answers tomorrow - anyone who has not finished PART 1 must complete it for Homework.

Mr. Harris

S5/6 Advert Task

You have been asked to watch AT LEAST three adverts for Homework.

Your job now is to create three presentations which answer the following question;

  "What techniques or tactics have the Advertisers used to make you want / think you need their product"

The presentations can be powerpoint (save to Student In/Media Studies to save on logging on or off tomorrow), MS Word (Print them off please) or Verbal (i.e. Talking). The presentations should be at least one minute long, at most three minutes and should contain REFERENCE TO TEXT (in other words, give examples from the advert to support your answer).

Mr. Harris

Exam Questions - Int 2

Choose one of these questions and answer it as best you can.
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1. Both fiction and non-fiction media texts have narratives that are carefully structured. With close reference to a media text you have studied:

(a) explain how a particular narrative has been carefully structured,
and
(b) explain why it has been carefully structured in the way that it has by referring to at least one other Key Aspect.

You should link and explain Narrative and at least one other Key Aspect inyour answer.
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2. Representations in media texts support or challenge cultural assumptions. With close reference to a media text you have studied:

(a) explain how the representations have been created,
and
(b) explain why the representations have been made this way by referring to at least one other Key Aspect.

You should link and explain Representation and at least one other Key Aspect in your answer.
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3. In order for a media text to be successful, the producers must include elements to please at least one audience. With close reference to a media text you have studied:

(a) explain at least one audience targeted by the makers of the text,
and
(b) explain what was included to appeal to the audience(s) by referring to at least one other Key Aspect.

You should link and explain Audience and at least one other Key Aspect in your answer.
---------------------------------- 4. The maker of a media text cannot just do what he or she wants. Institutions affect decisions made about what to include in the text. With close reference to a media text you have studied:
(a) explain at least two institutional factors that affected the text,
and
(b) explain, by referring to at least one other Key Aspect, how these institutional factors affected the final shape of the text.

You should link and explain Institution and at least one other Key Aspect in your answer.

28th August

Please can two of you come to Room 40 (Drama Room) to collect the Cameras, batteries and tripods.

Mr. Harris

Media Diary Task

Welcome back everyone,










Over the summer, you were asked to keep a diary of any and all media you interacted with, including Name, Medium, time spent, and context (i.e. who you were with, what you were doing).









Today, I would like you to create a presentation which summarises your media experiences;



Which media did you spend the most time with?

Did you focus on one or two different media or lots of different kinds?

Did you spend a lot of time by yourself, with others or online with friends?

Did you try out any new media over the summer? For example, did you read newspapers when you don't normally? Any new websites or T.V. shows? Did you watch any news?

What technology did you use? Cinema or iTunes for films? Internet, Mobile Phone or T.V. for news? etc.

Any other important information about your own personal media experience.

You will give your presentation in class this week.


Mr. Harris

Int 2 - Class Task for 19th June

We are looking at the medium of Film, specifically Hollywood (i.e. Fox, Paramount, Universal, etc.) or British Studio feature films (i.e. BBC or FilmFour produced films).


These films come in many different Genre's, or styles. For example, Romance, Horror, Action, Western, etc.

Choose ONE Genre, and find as many different film posters for that Genre as you can.
Collect them all into a powerpoint/word document for use next week - you will be creating a poster for a made up film in the SAME GENRE, using Genre Conventions (things that are common to a handful of these posters)

EXTENSION - If you finish this, repeat the exercise but with a more specific choice of Genre's, e.g. Sci-fi Comedy (Men in Black, Galaxy Quest), Docu-drama Horror (Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity).

Mr. Harris

Int 2 - Class Task for 12th June

We are looking at the medium of Film, specifically Hollywood (i.e. Fox, Paramount, Universal, etc.) or British Studio feature films (i.e. BBC or FilmFour produced films).

These films come in many different Genre's, or styles. For example, Romance, Horror, Action, Western, etc.

Choose THREE genres. Using the internet to research, list as many different films as you can for each of the three genres you've chosen. Try to include the Studio which produced the film as well.
(i.e. SCI-FI Star Wars/ 20th Century Fox)

EXTENSION - If you finish this, move onto the category of OTHER - Choose three actors and/or directors, and complete a similar list. For example, if I choose Tom Cruise, I would then list as many Tom Cruise movies as I could.

Mr. Harris