Introduction to exam Lesson 1 The Exam The

Introduction to exam Lesson 1

The Exam • The exam is in two sections. • Section A is a textual analysis of a lifestyle magazine. • You will have 30 minutes reading time- to examine the extracts, make notes and prepare for the question.

Section B • This section is on TV Comedies and will look at the scheduling of two TV comedies. • It will also look at the different audience pleasures we get from TV comedies.

Section A Exam questions: Q 1) Explain two ways in which the extract fits the genre of lifestyle magazines. Use examples from the extract. (10 marks) Q 2) Explain how each of the following is used in the extract to create effect: • layout • typography • colour • language Use examples from the extract. (20 marks) Q 3) Discuss how people and lifestyles are represented in the extract. Refer to stereotypes in your answer. Use examples from the extract. (20 marks)

Lifestyle Magazines Lesson objective • To understand the format of the lifestyle magazine part of the exam. • To understand genre and lifestyle in relation to magazines. Starter • What does the word lifestyle mean to you? What different lifestyles do people lead, which might require a magazine?

Learning Objectives 6 C All will comprehend what is meant by genre. B Most will be able to apply genre to different types of media products and group magazines into different categories. A Some will be able to give reasons why magazines can fall into more than one category and begin to analyse different types of magazines. Few will be able to construct a PEE paragraph identifying A* the lifestyle aspect of a magazine.

Genre What is genre? Genre is a word used to distinguish categories of media texts from one another. Genre is a tool which helps to distinguish categories of films from one another. Genre is a tool which helps to distinguish categories of magazines from one another.

Genres Draw the following table, suggesting your own genres (categories) found within these text types. Films Television Shows Books Magazines Comedy Sitcoms Horror literature Women’s magazines Action adventure Documentaries Your own example…. Sci-fi Romance Stretch & Challenge: Can you think of your own media category?

Genre: Task 1 9 ● Look through the magazines in front of you. ● Sort the magazines into groups using your own means of dividing them.

Examples of Lifestyle Magazine Titles ● Homes and Garden, ● House and Home, ● Amateur Gardener , ● Match, ● Bike, ● Redline, ● Custom PC, ● Gamesmaster, ● Kerrang, ● Arena, ● Company, ● Red, ● Essentials, ● Men’s Health, ● Esquire ● GQ etc. . Bring in magazines like the ones listed; we need lots of VARIETY therefore ask your families too!

Feedback ● How did you make your decision? ● Target audience? ● Genre? ● Format? ● Publication frequency? ● Another grouping?

TASK 2 ● There are obvious categories like sport, gossip, homes and interiors etc… ● However as you have just shown there are more complex categories too. ● TASK: Create a mind map for one magazine, defining what has to be in the magazines in order for them to be in a particular category.

Feedback ● What has to be in the magazines in order for them to be in a particular category? ● Our exam focus is lifestyle magazines. ● How do all of these magazines come under the same category of lifestyle magazine?

Plenary • Complete the following sentence starters with one of the magazine covers of your choice. – The magazine cover for _________ is a ______ themed magazine. – It can also be categorised under the genre of lifestyle magazine because….

Lesson 2: Conventions of lifestyle magazines

Remember, question 1 in the exam asks: • Q 1) Explain two ways in which the extract fits the genre of lifestyle magazines. Use examples from the extract. (10 marks)

Magazine Conventions Lesson objective To identify conventions common to all magazines. Starter Record this definition: • Convention: generally accepted custom or established rule. In pairs, collect a couple magazines and JUST LOOKING AT THE FRONT COVERS, list as many conventions as you can.

Learning Objectives C All will identify different conventions of magazines. B Most will be able to analyse how conventions are shared within a variety of magazines. Some will be able to give reasons why magazines A/ follow conventions and the benefits for audiences A* and institutions.

• Analyse one of the following lifestyle magazines. Use the help sheet to identify the correct labels for different conventions. In your answer you must explain how the magazine follows generic (genre) conventions. Example: This is not a title, it is a Masthead. The masthead is called ‘Shape’ which clearly connotes a Lifestyle choice of health and fitness. Placing the masthead at the top of the page Is a common convention in lifestyle magazines and allows the audience to quickly identify the genre. You may also want to talk about the main cover image or central image. You should comment on the mode of address and explain whether it follows convention or not. You could also analyse the main cover line/anchorage text and explain how this is a generic feature.

Pull-quote: suggests we will be getting Britney’s own words Strapline: anchors / boasts about content Masthead: in an analysis you could comment on the name, size, colour and font used. Main Cover image: in an analysis consider why this image has been chosen. Notice direct mode of address – intimacy with reader. This follows typical generic convention Coverlines: tell us what is in the magazine Graphic feature used to entice the reader Anchorage text: tells us why these models are featured and lures the reader to buy Colour palette: bright and exciting. Note pinks, reds and yellows conventionally used in this genre of mag. Layout: is quite busy – ‘shouts’ at the reader. This, and the colour and text and boxes at different angles suggests the content is exciting and probably aimed at a younger reader. This follows convention of gossip magazines.

Answer: Why do media products follow conventions?

Plenary C In a full sentences, summarise the main conventions you have found on the front covers of magazines, using accurate key terminology. B Suggest why conventions might be shared between magazines with different themes and topics. Suggest reasons why a magazine would benefit from A/ following conventions and why the consequences of A* decided to subvert those conventions might be.

Keyword Spelling Test 1. Lifestyle 2. Magazine 3. Conventions 4. Genre 5. Layout 6. Typography 7. Colour 8. Language 9. Representation 10. Stereotype Whilst marking, use a green pen and tick the ones you have correctly written down. Write the correct spelling for those you have got wrong otherwise it’s pointless!

Major lifestyle magazine publishing companies 25 ● Major lifestyle magazine publishing companies: • www. ipcmedia. com • www. natmags. co. uk • www. condenast. co. uk (useful media packs on its publications including GQ and Vogue) • www. emap. com • www. magforum. com has an extensive list of magazines and case studies of various genres. • Copies of several months’ editions or photocopies of contents pages from Company, She, Esquire and GQ magazines needed.

Resources: 26 ● The following will be excellent for revision and your exam prep! ● www. magazineweek. net/browse/search ● Has a drop down menu that includes lifestyle as a topic choice. ● www. mediaedu. co. uk/magazines /researchactivites. php is an excellent research activity ● www. mediaedu. co. uk is an excellent site for student friendly information on magazines. ● ‘The Language of Magazines’ by Linda Mc. Loghlin. Routledge pg 28 has a useful list of Marie Claire’s contents page structure.

Task 3 27 ● Using either several copies of the text, or copies of the contents page, complete a learning grid that looks at the conventions of a lifestyle magazine. ● You should identify which articles correspond with each convention.