1. Writing reviews:
For films, books, TV, theatre, Art exhibitions, concert, music events, recorded music, restaurants…

2. Learning objectives
Critically compare a range of communication methods used to convey meaning in creative media production.
Understand the characteristics and methods of communication within a media context
1.1 Critically compare a range of research tools, method and skills.
2.1 Critically compare a range of primary and secondary research sources.
Be able to use design and research tools, methods and skills to inform ideas for creative media production.
Understand critical perspectives that influence the analysis of creative media production activities
I.E. evaluate others work and use this to reflect back upon your work.

3. Aims of session
To research and review the Grayson Perry Exhibition in the Beany. (see on-line for images and other reviews to compare and contrast with yours)
To write a review of two different mediums/forms from: For films, books, TV, theatre, art exhibitions, concert, music events, recorded music, restaurants…

4. Writing reviews: http://www.slideshare.net/no1jenn/jo-ureviews
For films, books, TV, theatre, Art exhibitions, concert, music events, recorded music, restaurants…

5. Step One: Decide What To Look At
The first thing you need to do before you start your review is decide what aspects of the item you are going to evaluate. What I mean is this: what is it that can be good or bad about something you're going to review? An example: when you're watching a movie, you can look at the acting, the special effects, the camera work, or the story, among other things. Those are all items you can examine and decide if they are well or poorly done. With a book, you can look at the plot, the characters, and the way that the author puts words together. With a restaurant, you can look at the food, the service, and the setting. In fact, everything has qualities you can analyse and evaluate; you just need to sit down and figure out what they are.

6. Step Two: Decide What Makes Things Good or Bad
Before you can decide whether something is good or bad, you have to figure out what you mean by "good" and "bad." Do you like stories that have a lot of action or a lot of character development? Do you like acting that's realistic or acting that's wild and nutty? Do you like authors to use a lot of complicated words, or very simple words? You decide. Whatever you like, apply those standards to the thing you are reviewing.

7. How to do it:
It is now time to start putting your essay together. Here's a pretty simple format you can follow:
1.Open with an introduction paragraph that does the following things: ◦catches the reader's attention;
◦identifies the thing you'll be reviewing (e.g., the title of the book or movie);
◦identifies the author, star, or director, if appropriate.
2.Write a full paragraph about each of the aspects you want to examine, making sure each paragraph
does these things: ◦opens with a topic sentence that says what the paragraph is about; has several
detail sentences that prove the point you are trying to make; uses quotes or examples from the
book or movie, if possible, to help prove your point.
3.End with a conclusion paragraph that does the following: ◦*briefly* restates the main ideas of the
review; makes a judgment about the book or movie or whatever, saying whether it is good or bad
(some reviewers give ratings, like four stars or two thumbs up); recommends that the reader
go to the movie or read the book or buy a meal at the restaurant (or not, if it is no good).
How to do it

9. The finale #Lamentation, intended to be ironic and compelling is certainly successful. Rakewell, our anti-hero, acts as a reminder that death comes to us all, irrelevant of socio economics. However, our Western society also stresses that if death is witnessed it will be uploaded on to YouTube, as demonstrated by the onlookers. Rakewell’s death enforces our inevitability, which instils a resounding sense of universality, if expressed only in 140 characters.
Whilst viewing the exhibition a discussion sparked between myself and two elderly ladies, both from different backgrounds. That alone was testament to the message of Perry’s work; to highlight that although our differences may be small, when overcome the impact can be colossal.
Stephanie Bell
Grayson Perry's tapestries: weaving class and taste
Perry's tapestry series, The Vanity of Small Differences, says much about politics and how class defines the way we dress and decorate our houses, says Suzanne Moore

10. Grayson Perry would be a very good artist if he never made any art
Grayson Perry would be a very good artist if he never made any art. As a performer on a public stage, he is brilliant. His prickly persona is a work of art in itself. At pure conceptualism, he is great. What a shame that he insists on making stuff.
At pure conceptualism, he is great. What a shame that he insists on making stuff
Just when his conceptual career is at its height – with his crazy witch house opening its doors in Essex – here comes an exhibition not of Perry, but his pots. Provincial Punk at Margate’s Turner Contemporary is a thorough survey of Perry’s craft objects, from ceramics to prints and tapestries – an exploration of his making, in all its mediocrity.
In time, the stuff here will overcome the fame he has now, its ordinariness making future generations wonder what all the fuss was about. As physical, sensual works of art, his pieces have all the vibrancy of a laborious Victorian oil painting of a dog loyally attending its master’s grave, or a child blowing soap bubbles.

11. To research and review the Grayson Perry Exhibition in the Beany
To research and review the Grayson Perry Exhibition in the Beany. (see on-line for images and other reviews to compare and contrast with yours)
To write a review of two different mediums/forms from: For films, books, TV, theatre, art exhibitions, concert, music events, recorded music, restaurants, sports event or games…
Look at a range of other reviews and make a note of the language used.
How are the presented?
Are there any significant and distinctive characteristics within each of the reviews?