Film Industry: Marvel Cinematic Universe blog tasks

1) How many films were there in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) at the time of this article?

22 films

2) How much money have the MCU films made in total according to this article?

More than $18.2bn 

3) Why did Marvel create the Avengers films?

To make more money

4) Who owns the rights to Spiderman and why is the character now appearing in Marvel films?

Sony, to make Sony and Marvel more money as Spiderman is very popular

5) Which company owns the rights to the Fantastic Four and the X-Men?

20th Century Fox

6) Look at the very end of the article. What has Disney announced regarding TV shows on their new streaming service Disney+?

They will be introducing plenty of new shows people can watch on Disney+

Industries: Ownership and Control

1) What is a conglomerate in the media industries? 

A major media company with a lot of influence

2) What is a subsidiary?

A smaller company that is owned by a conglomerate 

3) What are the benefits for media companies of vertical integration?

Vertical integration gives conglomerates the chance to make money at every stage of production

4) What are the benefits for media companies of horizontal integration?

They can gain a wider audience and find other ways to make money

5) Give three examples of media companies or brands that have used synergy to maximise their profits. There are examples in the notes above to help you.

Disney, Marvel and Star Wars

6) What is convergence and what device has changed the relationship between audiences and producers? 

Being able to access all different types of media on one device, smartphones

Now read this article about Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram and answer the following questions:

7) Why did Facebook buy Instagram for $1bn?

Because Instagram has more than 30 million users making it hugely popular and successful, due to this, Facebook saw an opportunity to make more money

Now read this BBC article on Disney buying 21st Century Fox. 

8) What is the name of the media billionaire who used to own Fox?

 Rupert Murdoch

9) List 10 companies that are part of the Disney media empire. The graphic below will help you. 

Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios, Fox Entertainment Group, Disney Music Group, National Geographic, Endemol Shine Group, Sky PLC, Disney Theatrical Group, Disney Corporate, ESPN Inc.

10) Why did Disney buy Fox - what are the benefits? These benefits are particularly discussed towards the end of the article. 

Disney wanted to invest in Fox as a way to counter a downturn in its pay-TV business and threats from these new rivals

Audience Effects Theory

 1) Write a definition of a passive audience: 

An audience that automatically absorbs the same information from the media

2) Write a definition of an active audience: 

An audience that interacts with and chooses between the media they consume

3) Write a definition of the hypodermic needle theory: 

A view that states audiences are always passive, meaning they absorb the intended message from the producer as if it was injected into their minds

4) Write down a media product (e.g. TV show, newspaper or videogame) for each category of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory and WHY it fits that particular audience use/gratification. The first one is done for you: 

INFORMATION/SURVEILLANCE: Media text - The Times newspaper
 > Why: It tells audiences important information about politics, the world and more.

PERSONAL IDENTITY: Asian culture shows
 > Why: It is entertainment that people can relate to by being Asian themselves

DIVERSION/ENTERTAINMENT: Marvel shows
 > Why: It is entertainment that is different from your normal life as superheroes don't exist

RELATIONSHIPS: The news
 > Why: It can inform audiences of a persons experiences and the audience could feel pity for them

5) Re-watch the clip from Blue Planet and write a paragraph analysing how elements of the clip offer the audience pleasures or gratifications (use media terminology from Uses and Gratifications theory and the 3 Vs - notes outlined above). 

The Blue Planet documentary offers the audience information they didn't already know (information/surveillance), it also offers the audience entertainment away from their normal life by watching animals underwater (diversion/entertainment and voyeuristic pleasure). Some audiences may like this documentary even more if they've ever been underwater before or have an interest in sea life and animals (identity). The audience could also be intrigued while watching or have a physical thrill, for example when watching an animal being chased by a predator (visceral pleasure).

Blog tracker and learner response

 

1) List any tasks you have that are missing or incomplete.

Reception and effects theory blog tasks

2) Reflect on your tracker/feedback and write what you need to do this week to get your tracker all green or improve your work in GCSE Media.

I need to finish the reception theory task and start the effects theory task

3) Finally, come up with a list of three things you are going to do this half-term to help you make progress in Media.

• Do extension tasks
• Finish any incomplete blog tasks for homework
• Revise older blog tasks

Reception theory

1) What is the preferred reading of a media text?

The intended message the producer wanted the audience to understand

2) What is the oppositional reading of a media text?

When the audience ignore the intended message and take away a completely different message

3) How does the Harry Brown trailer position the audience to respond to the teenage characters in the film?

The producers of Harry Brown want the audience to see the teenage characters in a bad light (criminals, delinquents)

4) Why might young people reject this reading and construct an oppositional reading of the trailer?

Young people might create an oppositional reading as they want to counter how they are portrayed in the film

5) Write a 150+ word analysis of the McDonald's advert using preferred, negotiated and oppositional readings.

The preferred reading of this McDonald's advert is that it promotes the idea of McDonald's as a convenient and enjoyable meal. It showcases the deliciousness of the hamburger, appealing to consumers' cravings for fast food. The enticing imagery creates a positive association with the brand, suggesting that indulging in this burger can bring happiness and satisfaction.

From a negotiated reading, viewers might appreciate the ad's appeal but also recognize the negative health implications of fast food. While the burger looks appetizing, some consumers may be aware of the nutritional concerns associated with consuming such foods regularly. This perspective acknowledges the enjoyment of fast food while also considering the need for balance in people's diets.

An oppositional reading might identify that the ad is promoting unhealthy eating habits, especially among children. Some people may argue that the ad appeals to the negative impacts of fast food consumption, such as health issues like obesity and diabetes. This perspective challenges the positive portrayal of McDonald's, highlighting the potential negative effect of fast food advertising on society. 

Media assessment 1: 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: Able to comment on how denotation and connotation is used to communicate meaning to an audience for the unseen media product analysis (Q3)
• EBI: More detail when commenting on camera shots/ mise-en-scene in relation to the water aid advert analysis
• MARK: 15/30

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the mark you achieved for each question: 

Q1: 1 mark
Q2: 1 mark
Q3: 6 marks

Q4: 2 marks

Q5: 3 marks

Q6: 2 marks

3) Identify one of your stronger questions. Why did you do better on this question? Use the mark scheme to help you with this.

Question four was one of my stronger questions because denotation and connotation questions are ones I am better at

4) Identify one of your weaker questions. Why did you score lower on this particular question? Use the mark scheme to help you with this.

Question 6 was one of my weaker questions because it didn't require certain analysis techniques e.g. CLAMPS or denotation & connotation 

5) Finally, write a new, detailed paragraph for Question 3 - the unseen text 12 mark question. Use the mark scheme to identify anticipated content you can add to your response and make sure you refer to the text and write in detail.

DENOTATION: Beyoncé is wearing a red dress (symbolic code), the shot was taken at a low angle (technical code), the title 'heat' is in red and bold letters (written code) and the slogan 'catch the fever' is also in red (written code).

CONNOTATION: The red dress has connotations of power and passion due to it's colour and revealing look which is also emphasised by the low camera angle that makes her appear dominant. The title 'heat' and the slogan 'catch the fever' have connotations of attraction and romance that makes the product seem irresistible to the audience. The overwhelming amount of red in the advert adds intensity that creates a powerful effect on the audience and connotes to fire that links to the title.

Demographics and Psychographics

 1) What information do media companies use to create a demographic profile of their audience?

Audience profiling

2) Why are media companies and advertisers increasingly using audience profiling and not just demographics?

Because it is more detailed and specific compared to location or gender etc

3) What are the seven different Psychographic groups? 

• The mainstreamer
• The aspirer
• The explorer
• The reformer
• The struggler
• The succeeder
• The resigned

4) Write a brief summary of what each Psychographic group is seeking or motivated by.

• The mainstreamer- They require reliability and security by buying from brands they trust
• The aspirer- They require status and luxury by buying trendy items that are recommended by celebrities
• The explorer- They require discovery and new experiences by buying innovative products
• The reformer- They require self-improvement and enlightenment by being socially aware and buying environmentally safe products
• The struggler- They require escape and freedom from being a victim of addiction and unhealthy habits
• The succeeder- They require control and success by buying from the best brands
• The resigned- They require survivability and certainty by believing in traditions they grew to value and cherish

5) What psychographic group or groups do YOU belong in? Think about your own interests and lifestyle and explain your decision. Remember, you may fit into two or three different groups!

I think I belong the explorer and the aspirer because I like trendy things but I also like to try new things