OSP assessment learner response

 1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).

WWW: There's the basis of two good answers here but also some very useful lessons which will help us maximise marks in future exams.

EBI: In Q1, there is a lack of analysis of the text. You need to comment on the point, the family in the background etc. More annotations.

In Q2 i'm not sure of your reading on Hesmondhalgh's theory so revise on this. You need to discuss more of the dominant values + ideologies he refers to. You can also cover gender, capitalism, celebrity etc. 

2) Read the whole mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Identify three specific aspects from Figure 1 (the Google Home advert) that you could have mentioned in your answer (e.g. selection of image, framing and focus, colour, text etc.)

-Reinforces white, western, middle-class representation of family life to the exclusion of other backgrounds (race/ethnicity, sexuality, age, class). Presents the white, western ‘2.4 children’ average as desirable, aspirational lifestyle – some audiences will reject this.

-Google presenting its smart speaker as a ‘natural’ part of home life will be strongly rejected by audiences concerned with data, privacy and the power technology companies such as Google have in modern western societies.

-The repetition of the word ‘home’ may disturb audiences who see the advert as an example that nowhere is safe from multinational capitalist giants such as Google.

3) Now use the mark scheme to identify three potential points that you could have made in your essay for Question 2 (Hesmondhalgh - validity of theory/narrow range of values and ideologies).

-Alternatively, it could be argued that Taylor Swift is simply replicating many of the mainstream, hegemonic values and ideologies found across the cultural industries with regards to the representation of women. Despite championing women in the music industry (for example, at the Woman of the Decade award ceremony) her marketing material for the Tortured Poets Society (which is plastered across her website and social media) is constructed in a sexualised way that emphasises Swift’s appearance.

-The website contains plenty of opportunities for Swift fans to spend their money on merch, collectable versions of her albums (including on cassette tape, CD and vinyl) or tour tickets. An entire tour microsite gives audiences the opportunity to engage with the tour and demonstrate their level of fandom via social media – usually through the money they spend following Swift.

-The Voice should be successful due to the opportunities that are offered by digital media and the new media landscape in creating a platform for values and ideologies such as a strong Black British voice. However, the poor construction of the website and social media presence (poorly worded polls, cluttered design, low-quality photography, lack of fresh content, poor video production values, weak sponsored content) means it is not the powerful voice in British media it should be. This may reinforce the validity of Hesmondhalgh’s ideas when it comes to a narrow range of values and ideologies.

4) Use your exam response, the mark scheme and any other resources you wish to use to write a detailed essay plan for Question 2. Make sure you are planning at least three well-developed paragraphs in addition to an introduction and conclusion.

Intro;
-Answer question

Paragraph 1:
-Taylor swift argument 2024 with TikTok
-How she got back her music
-Endorsed Kamala in election
-Royal family picture
-Capitalistic ideologies, selling cassettes, vinyl's etc.
-Woman of the year
-Para-social relationships accelerated through social media where she interacts with fans


Paragraph 2:
-The voice target a black British audience
-A niche newspaper, created 1982
-Celebrates black community and achievements
-Link to Shirky
-Media helps make audiences active instead of following mainstream culture


Paragraph 3:
-Taylor concept reinforces the argument whilst The Voice subverts it
-Industries vertically integrated
-Swift’s website and social media presence also reinforce dominant capitalist ideologies- used to maximise her profit
- The Voices poor construction of the website and social media presence means it is not as powerful as it should be

Conclusion
-Link back to question again

5) Finally, identify three key areas you plan to revise from the OSP unit before the January mock exams (e.g. CSP elements or media theories) having looked at your feedback from this assessment.

-Revise on Hesmondhalgh's theory

-Revise on the OSPs