Compare how teenagers are represented in Action Adventure films: Hunger Games and The Amazing Spiderman

Writing the Comparative Analysis Essay

Essay Writing Frame: Media GCSE

Compare how teenagers are represented in action/fantasy film.

800-1500 words

Introduction: Knowledge and understanding of the texts studied Name the two films Explain the conventions of the film genre (using media terminology) Explore how the two films meet these conventions

Analysis and Interpretation of the texts/ Representation Explain the film’s key message and structure Highlight its Unique Selling Point Identify the Target Audience and why the characters would appeal to that audience – comment on aspiration and representation

Representation of social and cultural message and values/ Media Language Highlight the social and cultural message behind the film Discuss why this message would impact on the Target Audience

Media Language/ Codes and Conventions Close film analysis of a key scene from the film Comment on the effect on camera shots/ camera movements/ sound/ mise en scene

Conclusion Comparison of how the characters are represented to link to essay title

Magazine Target Audiences

Katy Perry appears on this Elle magazine front cover.
Can you label the conventions of magazines using media language?

• Title
• Main Image
• Anchorage Text
• Sell Lines
• Date and Cover Price
• Website address
• Colour
• Font

You need to analyse two magazines which are designed to appeal to contrasting Target Audiences. Write up your analysis using the media terms you have been introduced to in class.

• Target Audience
• Language - Codes and Conventions of magazines
• Audience - Age, Gender, Occupation, Lifestyle
• Appeal

Draft Design Example by Hannah Franks

Hannah Franks' work is an example of a professional looking piece of work. This is her draft product. It is successful because she has used the conventions intelligently to suit her magazine genre and target audience perfectly.
This piece of work also highlights how important colour and font choice are in the design process. All three of these products link together as they are following an in-house style. In other words, it is easy to see how all the pages come from the same magazine. Well done Hannah!

Magazine Front Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Your Reader Likes....

Media Institutions use Market Research to guide them to make their magazine appeal to their Target Audience. Knowing what your readers like is key to being able to design a product that will attract customers and in turn generate profit.

Market Research Task

Who is your typical reader? Create a target audience profile page looking at all the demographics of a typical reader.

Use Survey Monkey to help you construct a questionnaire. Invite people to answer your questionnaire and then analyse the data. Present your findings with a commentary showing what you have learnt about your target audience. Explain how this will impact on your planning decisions for your magazine project.

Is Production Easy?

Making a media product is hard work. It takes imagination, organisation, creativity and brilliant ICT skills.  Not only does your product need to look professional and creative but you need to completely know your target audience.

Last week we were looking at creating a magazine front cover that would appeal to a certain target audience. How successful was your final product and what kind of learning journey did you go on to get the product finished on time? Deciding the answers is called Evaluation. This is an important skill for Media Studies students.

Here is the task you should be finishing ahead of next lesson: 

Create an Evaluation Presentation (five slides using powerpoint).

•Explain your product (magazine front cover) and why it appeals to the target audience

•What research did you do? What did you find out?

•How does it follow the codes and conventions of magazines?

•Reflect on your work using media terminology (key concepts).