Dystopia revision Essay structure and content

What do you need to do? Achieved (Demonstrate understanding) means: to provide a description of the characteristics of a specific media genre. This includes: The feature(s) of the genre Detailed examples of the feature(s) Merit (Demonstrate in-depth understanding) means: to provide a detailed description of the characteristics of a specific media genre. This includes: HOW and/or why the features are used

What do you need to to…cont… Excellence (Demonstrate critical understanding) means provide a detailed examination of the characteristics of a specific media genre. This includes: Implication(s) of the use of feature(s) in the genre. Any of the below:  How the genre works as a commercial product  What comments this genre makes on the human condition and questions we ask as humans to try to make sense of life (eg what is it to be human?, what if technology took over from humans, what if we are completely controlled by government /corporate interests? What if we completely kill/ruin the world?)

More excellence!  How the issues in the films are appealing to audiences at the time at which they were made and a warning of might happen in the future (remember the zeitgeist!)  Genre Hybridisation (how/why the genre takes on aspects of other genre (and the commercial implications of this mix)

The exam 2011 Candidates will be asked to discuss ONE of four aspects of a media genre: a feature of the genre change in the genre audience expectation and/or response commercial consideration(s). The aspect chosen for discussion must be significant for the genre.

The exam 2011 For Achievement with Excellence, candidates must discuss possible implication(s) and/or effect(s) for the genre. Candidates must support their responses with detail from at least TWO media texts and/or evidence from other sources.

Use the following prompts to write your first intro paragraph – what is a dystopia? Part of the science fiction genre Dystopian setting Opposite of a utopia Bad place Bleak and oppressive

Use the following prompts to write your second paragraph – What is a dystopia? Set in the future (often near future) The world has gone mad (man made or otherwise) A world shaped by social, technological, medical, environmental, political or economic forces Highly controlled

What do dystopian films try and do? Use these prompts to write your third paragraph Aim to frighten and provoke Tap into the ‘zeitgeist:’ the ideas and beliefs of contemporary society Speculate on potential developments Closely connected to the society in which they are made /concerns or issues of the time Act as a warning Realistic and alarming As society changes so do the issues

Explain a feature of the genre with two examples. (At least 4 paragraphs) An important feature in a Dystopian film is…. This feature is often, can be, is recognised by etc (use any sentence stem that helps you to EXPLAIN the feature rather than just identify it) An example of this feature is seen in….where… Another example of this feature is seen in…where… This feature is used to…the connection with the main themes of the genre is…Audiences identify with this feature because…This feature adds….to the genre

The rainbow connection – some excellence prompts Audiences can recognize aspects of the society in which the film was made and therefore.. Dystopian films are very often hybrids of different genres such as…. And…an example of this is… hybridization of different genres in dystopian films works because the themes are often… Genre films are often commercial Hollywood products they can also often retain elements a typical Hollywood happy ending, such as that in Minority Report, or the possibility of future hope in “Children of Men”. It is important for producers of studio genre films to do this because….

The rainbow connection – some excellence prompts Successful genre formulas (such as dystopian films) allow producers to make money because…. One ‘self-referential’ aspect of these films is the large amount of product placement/advertising in the world of the film… This relates to the commercial aspects of the film because… but also is a comment on the world of the film because.. Big budget stars and romantic storylines are important in some dystopian films because… Some dystopian films are more ‘art-house’ and made by independent film makers because…