Magazine 2 - Lesson 2 - Exam Structure

Exam Question Practice

1. 'Genre conventions in magazines are completely informed by the social and historical context to which they are made' - Michael Collins

Evaluate this statement with reference to Adbusters**. Make reference to genre hybridity.

Notes

• Genre Conventions are the things that make magazines, magazines.

• Adbusters doesn't fit into a genre.

• The two magazines we are comparing (Woman and Adbusters) were made in two completely different times (1964 & 2016).

• In 1964 - Woman magazine the norm was that woman just started getting more opportunities as in going to university and going on the train 'like the men do'.

• In 2016 - Its normal for Women to go to work, and its normal to see them on the train we don't question it like they done in 1964.

• In 2016 - we have a threat of global terrorism, Donald Trump being elected president in the US as he was a former reality star and is known for having 'silly beliefs', UK leaving the EU.

• 'Evaluate' - look into detail, assess, give an opposing argument, conclude.

• The quote is given as an opinion so you need your own opinion in the question to either agree or oppose, or even both to give a good analysis and evaluation of the quote (opinion) given.

• If you disagree with the opinion given, explain and give examples of how you agree (as the opinion will be accurate), and then explain and give examples of how you disagree as there may be things that are missed out. 

• Plan ideas - What will effect the ideologies that the producer has and puts in a magazine - Social, Historical, Political Ideologies, Genre Hybridity, Financial reasons. (3 - 6 paragraphs)

• Structuring an Essay
• 1) Read the question. Underline the key terms.
• 2) Gut reaction - What's your opinion? What argument will you make?
• 3) Plan - on the answer paper, let the examiner see your thought process.

• First paragraph of the response is the introduction. - CDA
• Context - what is going on in society, magazine facts (Adbusters is first published in 1989, by Adbusters Media Foundation.) (Woman is first published in the 1930's by IPC).
• Definition - Defining the words we have underlined in the question and why they are important (Genre - important because it will give the magazine clear conventions and makes it understandable and identifiable to the consumers and the target market)
• Argument - 'In general, Collins is right to list social and historical factors as essential to informing genre, However, political ideologies and genre hybridity also play a massive role.'

• Paragraph Structuring - PEA - (3 - 6 paragraphs)
• Point - 'The social context which the magazine is made in is essential to constructing genre'. - We need to point out to the examiner and to ourselves what we are talking about as bluntly as possible so we can prove we know what we are talking about.
• Evidence - 'The central image includes a stereotypical looking terrorist, this gives off confusion as also the magazine also lacks basic conventions, the masthead is spray painted over almost as if it is vandalised.
• Argument - A theorist that we can use is Steve Neal, he states that genre's are repetitive, and that they all differentiate only slightly, and Adbusters subvert genre conventions to attract attention to the other repetitive and slightly differentiated magazine genre's.

• Conclusion
• Do not add anything new, just repeat what you have said in the prior paragraphs of the essay, and sum up your final argument and make sure that your point is clear.