Year 11 Media Assessment: Revision and Preparation

Year 11 assessment week is coming up before the next set of interims. As we're focused on coursework currently, we are going to give you a mini-Paper 1 assessment to help revise content from last year.

Your assessment will be similar to the exam you did at the end of last year but this time will focus on Paper 1. Your exact date will depend on the timetable as these assessments are in-class. Your Media teacher will be able to tell you when your assessment will run.  

Below is a full guide to what you need to revise for this assessment.   

Know your exams

One of the most important aspects of preparing for examinations is knowing exactly what topics could come up in each exam. For your Paper 1 assessment, this is what might come up:

Paper 1

Paper 1 Section A: Language and Representation

• Unseen text: advert, social media screengrab or music promotion of some kind. Multiple choice questions plus media language analysis (12 marks). 
• Advertising & Marketing: OMO advert, Galaxy Audrey Hepburn advert and the NHS Represent blood donation campaign. 
• Magazines: Tatler and Heat.

Paper 1 Section B: Audience and Industry

• Media Industries / Audience questions - media terminology / theory / regulation etc. (2 marks).
• Film Industry: Black Widow and I, Daniel Blake. 
• Music Video: BLACKPINK - How You Like That and Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.
• Radio: Launch of BBC Radio 1 - Tony Blackburn, Kiss FM Breakfast with Jordan and Perri.

Your real Paper 1 exam will also contain a 20-mark essay on either Film, Radio, Music Video, Newspapers or Videogames/Online, Social and Participatory Media but this will not be part of this assessment as it is only half the full exam. 

Paper 2

You will not be taking Paper 2 as part of this assessment but we will take on a full 90-minute Paper 2 as part of the December mock exams. More details on that nearer the time!  

How to revise

Revision is a very personal thing and everyone has different techniques. Personally, I strongly recommend using flash cards (they are often called record cards if you are trying to buy them online or in WHSmiths). The simple act of distilling topics into a few key words or phrases to put on the card will seriously help in remembering the key information in the final exams. We recommend having three sections to your revision cards:

1. Media terminology and key words
2. Media theories
3. CSPs

I have spare flash cards in DF07 if you'd like some.  

Good luck with your revision and give this assessment your best shot!

Coursework: Preliminary Exercise 2025 - Print

The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of writing, photography and editing.

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the technical skills you will need to excel in your coursework. You may even create a piece of print media that you can end up using as part of your actual coursework!

Preliminary exercise: Celebrity Gossip Magazine
Your preliminary exercise involves creating and editing a front cover and single page spread - similar to your coursework. The magazine needs to be appropriate to the print brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

The magazine must include:

Front cover: Title for the magazine and original masthead design; Selling line; Cover price; Dateline; Main original cover image; At least four cover lines.

Single page spread: Headline, standfirst and subheadings; Original story for single page feature

(approx. 350–400 words) that links to one of the cover lines on the front cover; Main original image (different from that used on the front cover) plus at least three smaller original images.

Both: Clear brand and house style for the magazine, including use of images, colour palette and

fonts.

Key writing and editing skills

Watch this great introduction to article writing - it covers the basics of the creative process:

Magazine examples

Here's a reminder of some magazines you can use as inspiration for your preliminary exercise:

Preliminary exercise tasks: Celebrity Gossip Magazine

Task: Create a front cover and single page spread - similar to your coursework. The magazine needs to be appropriate to the brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

Length: approximately 350-400 words

Equipment: Smart phone or a school camera (limited numbers available); school computers/home computers Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive / iCloud.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can appear in your photos or operate equipment (e.g. camera) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task.

What your magazine needs to include:

Content: 

- A front cover and single page feature for a new celebrity gossip magazine, aimed at an audience demographic of NRS social grades C2DE.

- The double page feature must focus on a celebrity influencer who is launching their new book. - - The book is about making positive lifestyle changes.

- Two pages in total, including at least three original images.

Camerawork:

- You must include at least two unique shots but you will hopefully include much more from a wide variety of shot types (e.g. long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot.

Features:

Front cover

• Title for the magazine and original masthead design

• Selling line

• Cover price

• Dateline

• Main original cover image

• At least four cover lines.

Single page spread

• Headline, standfirst and subheadings

• Original article for single page feature (approx. 350–400 words) that links to one of the cover lines on the front cover

• Main original image (different from that used on the front cover) plus at least two smaller original images.

Deadlines

Planning and filming: This week's lessons.

Editing and final deadline: Next week.

Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom.


Initial Tasks: planning

Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:

Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.

1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise.

Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.

Example statement of intent [199 words]: 

I plan to produce a two-page spread for a magazine focusing on a celebrity's recent fashion choices and lifestyle. The article will analyse a well-known figure's style evolution, from their early red-carpet appearances to their current, more refined looks.

The first page will feature a large, high-quality photograph of the celebrity in a recent, iconic outfit. The accompanying text will provide a brief introduction and an overview of the celebrity's fashion journey. I'll use a clean, modern font for the headlines and body text to give the spread a sophisticated feel.

The second page will break down specific elements of the celebrity's current style. I'll include a series of smaller photos, each highlighting a different outfit or accessory, such as a handbag or a pair of sunglasses. The text will offer insights into the designer brands they favour, and I'll add some quotes from fashion experts or the celebrity themselves to make the content more engaging. The page will end with a "get the look" section, offering readers affordable alternatives to some of the showcased items. The overall tone will be informative and aspirational, allowing readers to feel connected to the celebrity's world while also providing practical style advice. [199 words]

2) Write an outline for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include talking points and photo lists. To see how a magazine is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the following link which gives lot of tips and tricks on how to layout and plan your magazine.

3) Casting: Who will be in your magazine?

4) Plan your locations: Where you will shoot your preliminary exercise? (You can take photos off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to take shots in-school then you will need to shoot with Mr Ray supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 

5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. This is for a narrative film but the layout will be the same. 

Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck! 

Coursework: Preliminary Exercise 2025 - Music Videos

The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of filming and editing.

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the technical skills you will need to excel in your coursework. You may even film a production that you can end up using as part of your actual coursework!

Preliminary exercise: Music Video

Your preliminary exercise involves filming and editing a 30-40 second music video - similar to your coursework. The video needs to be appropriate to the music video brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

The video must include at least two different sets/locations, some identifiable narrative content, at least two characters including a definitive protagonist, a variety of camera shots, both diegetic and non-diegetic sound (one of which must be your chosen music), and use of titles/graphics to reinforce the message of the video.

Key filming and editing skills

Watch this great introduction to filmmaking - it covers the basics of the creative process:



Match-on-action

Match on action (or cutting on action) is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot showing the same action of the subject in the first shot.

This creates the impression of continuity - the action creates a 'visual bridge' which is easy for the audience to follow.

Look at this YouTube clip for a basic match on action example: 

Music Video examples

Here's a reminder of some music videos you can use as inspiration for your preliminary exercise:

Little Mix - Little Me:

 

Yungblud - mars 

Grange Hill Cast - Just Say No

Preliminary exercise tasks: Music Video

Task: Create a a 30-40 second music video - similar to your coursework. The video needs to be appropriate to the brief we have been given in terms of content and target audience. 

Length: approximately 30-40 seconds.

Equipment: Smart phone or a school camcorder (limited numbers available). Note: you may need to bring in the cable to capture the videos from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive / iCloud.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, other people can act in your scene or operate equipment (e.g. camera, sound) as long as they are directed by the candidate submitting the work. You may want to get into groups of two or three to help each other complete this task.

What your music video needs to include

Content: 

- At least two filming locations.

- Some identifiable narrative content.

- At least two ‘characters’, including a protagonist.

Camerawork:

- You must include at least three different shot types but you will hopefully include much more (e.g. long shot, medium shot, close-up, extreme close-up, over-the-shoulder shot and either a high or low angle shot. You also must include both fixed camera shots and camera movement (e.g. handheld, tracking, pan etc.)

Editing:

- You must include match-on-action continuity editing and edit to clearly communicate the meaning of your music video.

Sound: 

- You must include diegetic sound (from within the world of the music video) which will be dialogue and any background sound. You also need to include non-diegetic sound (e.g. music or sound effects) to help communicate your key message in your music video. 

Deadlines

Planning and filming: This week's lessons and start of next week.

Editing and final deadline: Next week.

Specific deadlines: see Google Classroom.


Initial Tasks: planning

Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can film anything:

Create a blogpost called 'Coursework preliminary exercise' and produce the following.

1) Write a 100 word statement of intent explaining what you are going to make for your preliminary exercise.

Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.

Example statement of intent [147 words]: 

I plan to make a 30 second advert about a student struggling in school due to tiredness and behaviour issues who is helped by their rehydrating health drink. The beginning of the advert will have a montage editing sequence of different issues that the student is having with a soundtrack that fits a negative overall mood. My character will be in school uniform that is deliberately messed up to help communicate the struggles the student is experiencing.

The middle of the advert will involve the character discovering the product with close-up shots of the product (pack shot) and also the character drinking the product. The advert will then end with the character alert, in perfect uniform and answering a question in class and being successful. The final seconds will have a logo and slogan of the health drink with a voiceover saying the product name and slogan. [147 words]

2) Write a script for your preliminary exercise on your blog. This needs to include stage directions AND dialogue. To see how a TV drama script is presented, and to look at professional examples, check out the BBC Writers' Room and click on Script Library. These will not be music video scripts but the layout will be the same.

3) Casting: Who will be in your preliminary exercise music video?

4) Plan your locations: Where you will film your preliminary exercise? (You can film off-site if you wish to do this for homework - this is what we would strongly recommend). Important note: You CANNOT take any students out of any other lessons OR disturb any other lessons in the school. If you wish to film in-school then you will need to film with Mr Ray supervising or after school with a Media teacher present. 

5) Write your shot list: every shot you plan to film. This needs to be far MORE shots than you will actually use in the final edited version - plan extra angles, close-ups, long shots and more. You can find an example shot list here. This is for a narrative film but the layout will be the same. 

Extension task - Storyboard: Draw a 5-frame storyboard mapping out your key shots. Storyboard sheets are available in DF07.

Your planning needs to be completed this week. Good luck! 

Recap: Summer Project 2025 Tasks

Coursework: Summer Project 2025

The summer project is a fantastic opportunity to start planning your music video.

Your summer project contains compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching music videos, coming up with a new music video concept and then writing a Statement of Intent first draft. However, if you wish to plan and film your production over the summer while you have time available we would fully support you in this approach.

You can find your coursework brief for 2026 here!

Summer project tasks

Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning':

1) Research: Music videos

Watch the following music videos and analyse an aspect of media language for each one:

Music video 1: Marshmello x YUNGBLUD x blackbear - Tongue Tied

How is narrative used in this music video to engage the audience?

Music video 2: Years & Years - I Wish I Knew

How is camerawork and mise-en-scene used in this video? Use CLAMPS to remember the different aspects of mise-en-scene.

Music video 3: Foals - Hummer

How is editing used in this music video to engage the audience?

Music video 4: Your choice

Select a music video of your choice and analyse an element of it e.g. narrative, camerawork, editing, visual effects etc. If you're not sure which video to use you could watch some of the following:

• Ariana Grande - One Last Time
• Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

You may also want to look a completely different, creative approach to music video - such as these Lego stop motion productions and how they use narrative:

• Johnathan Pushkar - We Could Be Together
• Keep Me Music Video

2) Music video planning 

Plan out the basic details for your music video. What song do you plan to use? Will your video be performance or narrative based (or both)? Complete the following on your blog:

Artist and song you have chosen: 

Plan for music video (narrative/performance etc.): 

Link to brief (one small step to improving your community): 

Actors/performers you plan to use: 

Locations: 

Costume/make-up/props required: 

 

3) Statement of Intent

On the same Summer Project blogpost, write the rough first draft of your 300-word Statement of Intent for the two-minute music video you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your music video production and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.

Guidance and minimum requirements can be found in the AQA brief from their NEA Student Booklet.

We also strongly recommend you look at our Statement of Intent questions to consider document too.

Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in the second lesson back in September.


Summer project: optional extensions

Pre-production tasks
Some students have already expressed an interest in filming their music video over the summer break. This makes a huge amount of sense - far more availability of performers, much more time to schedule filming etc. However, if you want to do this, you need to complete the following aspects of pre-production and make sure you have parental permission and that you are staying safe at all times:

Music video treatment
Write a full treatment for your music video - this is effectively the script for your production. You can find an example of a real music video treatment here. 

Shot list
Write a shot list containing EVERY shot you plan to film for your music video AND additional shots to create flexibility when editing. These additional shots are often close-ups, cutaways, alternative angles or similar. I advise using a simple table on Microsoft Word to set out your shot list - you can find an example here for a student film shot list. It makes sense to write your shot list by scene or location rather than a huge list of every shot in the extract in chronological order. You also need to plan FAR more shots than you think you'll need a - a two minute music video could easily have 120+ shots in it. 

Mise-en-scene
What iconography or mise-en-scene are you including to ensure your audience understands the genre and narrative of your music video? Plan your performers, costume, make-up, props, lighting and setting. This can be simply completed using your blog or Microsoft Word - the key aspect is to have planned all the critical details. 

Shooting schedule 
Plan a shooting schedule for your filming over the summer. Include when, where, who is required and what shots you will complete at each time/location. Again, this can be on Word or Excel or you could simply use your blog. The most important thing is that you've planned it!

Non-assessed participants
You will need to provide a written record of all non-assessed participants in your production work. Keep a record of everyone involved - actors, camerawork, sound etc. You will also need a keep a record of any non-original sound you used and note it on the Candidate Record Form. Keep these on your blog for easy reference when submitting your work later this year.

Production: Filming 
Once you have completed your pre-production tasks, you can film as planned. If you are unable to film over the summer, we will have time to film this production in September.

Good luck!

Welcome to GCSE Media Studies Year 2!

This is your new blog home for Year 2 of GCSE Media Studies - welcome!

This is where you'll find everything you need for coursework and exam preparation for this crucial second year of the GCSE Media course.

Good luck and let's earn those top grades! 

Final exam preparation and revision links

Here's everything you need to know for your revision and preparation for the final exams.

The final weeks and days before the exams are a good opportunity to go over what you know and test yourself against the kind of questions that AQA like to use. 

Exam: Media Paper 1

Media Paper 1 is on Wednesday 14 May in the afternoon.

Section A: Media Language, Representations and Contexts

Note: It's important to remember that either Newspapers or OSP / Videogames can come up in Paper 1. Whichever comes up in Paper 1 usually means the other topic will come up in Paper 2 so we'll be watching carefully. 

Unseen text analysis

• Unseen text analysis - look at previous assessment LRs and revise mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) and other key media language from your GLoW Media glossary. When you annotate the text, first identity anything interesting on the media product that you could write about (image/text/colour scheme/font and typography etc.) Then, work out the connotations of each of those and which will help you answer the question. 

Magazines

• CSPs: Tatler & Heat
• Magazines index here  
• You can find the original lesson slides here in our GCSE lesson slides folder on Google Drive.

Advertising & Marketing 

• CSPs: OMO, Galaxy Audrey Hepburn Chauffeur advert, NHS Represent campaign
• Advertising index here
• You can find the original lesson slides here. 

Newspapers 

• CSPs: The Daily Mirror and The Times
• Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here 

OSP

• CSPs: Kim Kardashian and Marcus Rashford
• OSP CSPs - Language and Representations
• OSP CSPs - Industries and Audience
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Videogames

• CSPs: Lara Croft Go and Kim Kardashian Hollywood
• Lara Croft Go - blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - blog notes here

Section B: Media Industries and Audiences

Note: It's important to remember that either Newspapers or OSP / Videogames can come up in Paper 1. Whichever comes up in Paper 1 usually means the other topic will come up in Paper 2 so we'll be watching carefully. 

Music Video

• CSPs: BLACKPINK: How You Like That and Arctic Monkeys: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
• Music Video index is here
• You can find the Music Video lesson slides here.

Radio

• CSPs: Launch of BBC Radio 1 Tony Blackburn show in 1967 and Kiss FM Breakfast show with Jordan and Perri
• Radio index is here
• You can find the Radio lesson slides here.

Film Industry

• CSPs: Black Widow & I, Daniel Blake
• Film Industry index here
• You can find the Film Industry lesson slides here.

Newspapers 

• CSPs: The Daily Mirror and The Times
• Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here 

OSP

• CSPs: Kim Kardashian and Marcus Rashford
• OSP CSPs - Language and Representations
• OSP CSPs - Industries and Audience
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Videogames

• CSPs: Lara Croft Go and Kim Kardashian Hollywood
• Lara Croft Go - blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - blog notes here

Exam: Media Paper 2

Media Paper 2 is on Thursday 22 May in the afternoon.

Section A: Television

Television

• Clip from CSPs: Doctor Who OR His Dark Materials - Google Drive folder with CSP videos here
• TV index to original blog tasks here 
• You can find the original lesson slides here 

Section B: Newspapers OR Online, Social and Participatory Media / Videogames

Two 20 mark essays on one of the following topics: 

Newspapers 

• CSPs: The Daily Mirror and The Times
• Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here 

OSP

• CSPs: Kim Kardashian and Marcus Rashford
• OSP CSPs - Language and Representations
• OSP CSPs - Industries and Audience
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Videogames

• CSPs: Lara Croft Go and Kim Kardashian Hollywood
• Lara Croft Go - blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - blog notes here

Links and revision resources to help you

We have a range of resources to help you prepare for your final exams.

ZigZag practice papers and mark schemes

Use your paper copies of the ZigZag practice papers and mark schemes for Paper 1 and Paper 2. This is particularly good to prepare for the unusual or left-field questions that AQA like to put in their exams sometimes. Remember, if you know the terminology, the theories and the CSPs you can't go far wrong. 

If you don't have a copy of the practice papers then you can collect them from DF07.  

Exemplar questions and answers

You can find a document of exemplar questions and answers from previous years here. This google doc will be updated as we look at more questions and sample answers in revision lessons before the exams.

Media terminology glossary

You can find AQA's full subject glossary on their website here. Note that we won't have covered every word of this in lessons - there are too many terms and not enough time. Some of these have been covered in grade 8/9 blog extension tasks and others in additional notes on blogposts. 

Revision booklet - Google Slides

Ms Lawrence has kindly put together a revision booklet on Google Slides. You need to open the link, make a copy and save it in your own Google Drive. Then you can fill in the boxes or simply use it as a base for your own revision or knowledge organisers.

CSP Knowledge Organisers

Miss Fowler put together a brilliant set of Knowledge Organisers to revise the CSPs last year. Look through these and then create your own to test your knowledge!

Revision is the key

It's important that you really put the time into your revision to make sure you know these CSPs inside out. If you would like revision cards to revise with feel free to pop in to DF07 and I'll happily provide you with them for free - you need create revision cards for all the exam CSPs and also for media terminology and theory (e.g. Mise-en-scene, Reception theory, Uses & Gratifications theory etc.) Aim to have three separate categories of revision cards:

• Media terminology
• Media theory
• CSPs

To help, here's a short blog on what makes a good flashcard - always useful to get top tips on effective revision techniques.

Don't forget there are other great resources out there - for example, Mrs Fisher's YouTube channel is great for videos on CSPs, theories and terminology. Here's Mrs Fisher's playlist of AQA CSPs:

The better you know the terminology, theory and CSPs, the better you'll do in the final exams. Good luck!

Videogames CSP 2: Kim Kardashian Hollywood

Our final Videogames Close-Study Product is another phone/tablet game: Kim Kardashian Hollywood. This is our last CSP - well done on getting to the end of a LOT of content!

Again, this is an in-depth topic so we need to make sure we have studied this product across media language, audience, industry and representation. However, we have already studied Kim Kardashian's use of online media so this will build on that work nicely.

You can find the work we've done on Kardashian already here:

• OSP - Language and Representations
• OSP - Industries and Audiences

Kim Kardashian Hollywood videogame: notes

Language

Gameplay

The gameplay for Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is explained in detail in the app store or Google Play store:

Join KIM KARDASHIAN on a red carpet adventure in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood! Create your own aspiring celebrity and rise to fame and fortune! 

CREATE YOUR OWN STAR and customize your look with hundreds of style options, including Kim Kardashian’s personal picks!

⋆ STAR in a huge interactive adventure as you encounter other celebs, dedicated fans, persistent paparazzi… and even hang out with Kim herself!

⋆ RULE THE RED CARPET as an A-list movie actor, cover model, fashion designer and more – what you do is up to you!

⋆ TAKE OVER L.A. in a virtual world complete with exclusive clubs, upscale boutiques, and luxury homes! Travel to New York City and Miami!

⋆ DATE AND DUMP CELEBS at the best parties and hottest clubs! Flirt and become the next huge celebrity power-couple!

⋆ BRING YOUR FRIENDS ALONG FOR THE RIDE using Game Center and Facebook – help each other rise to fame, compare styles, send gifts, and see who can be the biggest star!

Game trailer:



Gameplay example:



Kim Kardashian: Hollywood - Narrative and objectives

The aim of Kim Kardashian Hollywood is to work your way  up the celebrity scale from Z-List to A-List.  As you play you will interact with a range of real and fictional characters in the United States and around many of the world’s most glamourous and famous locations.  As you progress, there are collectibles and missions that will allow you to develop the status of your customisable character. Your ranking is determined by your position on the Top Stars list in Hollywood. They are sorted into six different lists, Unlisted being the lowest rank to the A-list being the highest rank. You rise up in ranks by gaining fans. The goal of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is to gain as many fans as possible by doing well on projects, getting attention from Starnews, and dating to get to the A-list.

Characters

Characters are NPCs (Non-Playable Characters) that appear in goals or locations and the storyline as you progress in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. These exclude NPCs you meet in the game that you can date or network with. These types of contacts are randomly generated according to each individual game.

The characters in Kim Kardashian Hollywood are a mixture of real VIP characters and fictional characters. There are 100s – you can see a few opposite.

In your pursuit of celebrity some of the fictional characters work with you and some actively try to ruin your journey by beating you to A-List.

Settings

There are a range of locations in the game that try to mirror the stereotype of the celebrity lifestyle of an A-lister:

Narrative: special events

Special Events are temporary goal arcs that are available only during Weekend Events in the game. By completing them, players can not only earn Cash Cash, XP XP, Energy Energy and Star Stars, but also Special Event stars.  These regularly happen and keep the game fresh.  It also means established players keep coming back to the game to see what the latest updated events are.

By collecting Special Event stars, players can unlock exclusive rewards and Kustomize items. The Kustomize screen, also known as your wardrobe, is the screen where you can customize your character to your liking. You can purchase tops, dresses, pants, skirts, shoes, hairstyles, facial features, nail colours and fashion accessories like bags, jewellery, and tattoos.

You can change your look whenever you like. The game encourages players to "keep on top of current fashion to maximise your fans!"

Representations

There are some key questions we need to consider regarding representation in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood:

• How are women represented?
• How is celebrity represented?
• How is race/ethnicity represented?

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood contains quite controversial representations of women, celebrity and race/ethnicity.

It has been criticised for offering a representation of women focusing on appearance, modelling and dating as a way to be successful. Similarly, celebrity is represented as something to aspire to even without an obvious talent or ability.

On a more positive note, the game has been praised for its representation of race, ethnicity and sexuality – with the game offering a diverse range of characters.

Audience

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood was incredibly popular. It was been  downloaded over 50 million times and generated $200 million plus.

Why do audiences like it?

One way of understanding why audiences choose certain media texts is Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratification Theory.

Uses and Gratification Theory states that audiences consume media products/texts for at least one of the following reasons:

1. Diversion, escapism or entertainment – escaping from normal life.
2. Personal relationships – fulfils their need for companionship. This is particularly true of social media products, online gaming and online communities. It can also apply to audiences developing an affection for certain stars or characters.  
3. Personal identity - seeing your own lifestyle, interests or ambitions reflected in a media product; reinforcing your own identity.
4. Surveillance – using media to find out about the world around them.

Which of these apply to Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

Watch this video of Buzzfeed staff trying to play the game:

Industries

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood was developed by Glu Mobile, a highly successful mobile game developer and publisher. It was released in June 2014 and was marketed heavily using the Kim Kardashian brand.

With social media promotion, the game quickly shot to the top of download lists and iTunes app store charts.

Media convergence

The game design means that there is a great deal of media convergence.  Media convergence is the merging of different media texts. How does Kim Kardashian Hollywood involve media convergence?

The game: TV Show and social media channels are referenced in game.  Player encouraged to engage online and gain bonus items for sharing on Facebook etc.

Social media: Game appears on Kim’s actual social media platforms. Also, need to tweet in game.

TV Show: Game appears on Keeping Up with the Kardashians episodes.  TV Show is also referenced in game.

Marketing and promotion

Watch this TV advert for the game:



Glu: monetising Kim Kardashian: Hollywood

The game is free to download but makes huge amounts of money from in-app purchases and subscriptions. Players need to buy energy to complete tasks (or wait 30 minutes for energy to replenish). They can also buy subscriptions:

• Gold: 49.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Silver: 19.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)
• Bronze: 4.99 USD / month (or local equivalent)

Small print

Due to the addictive nature of the game and the potential to spend huge amounts of money on in-app purchases, the developers place warnings in the app store before purchase:

PLEASE NOTE: - This game is free to play, but you can choose to pay real money for some extra items, which will charge your iTunes account. You can disable in-app purchasing by adjusting your device settings. - This game is not intended for children. - Please buy carefully. - Advertising appears in this game. - This game may permit users to interact with one another (e.g., chat rooms, player to player chat, messaging) depending on the availability of these features. Linking to social networking sites are not intended for persons in violation of the applicable rules of such social networking sites.

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood CSP - blog tasks

Create a blogpost called 'Kim Kardashian Hollywood CSP case study' and complete all the following questions under the subheadings Language, Representation, Industries and Audience.

Language

1) What is the objective when playing the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood game?

2) What is an A-list celebrity? Why is it important in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

3) What is the narrative or storyline of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood? Where is it set?

4) What characters can you play as? What characters appear in the game?

5) What activities does your character get up to in the game? 

Representations

1) What representations of women can be found in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

2) What representations of race, ethnicity or sexuality can be found in the game?

3) How does the game both reinforce and subvert stereotypes in the media?

4) What does the game suggest regarding modern perceptions of celebrity and how to get famous?

5) How might someone criticise the representation of celebrity in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

Audience

1) Who is the intended audience for the Kim Kardashian Hollywood game? Why do you think this?

2) What audience pleasures are provided by the game? Use Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory.

3) Why is the game so addictive for audiences?

Read this article by James Liu in Forbes on why the Kim Kardashian game is so successful. If the website is blocked in school, you can access the text of the article here.

4) Why does James Liu think Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is so successful?

5) What does James Liu suggest is the reason players keep coming back to the game?


Industries

1) How much did Kim Kardashian: Hollywood cost to download?

2) How did the game make money?

3) What subscriptions were available in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood?

4) How was Kim Kardashian: Hollywood marketed and promoted?

5) How does Kim Kardashian: Hollywood use media convergence and synergy to cross-promote both the game and the wider Kardashian brand? You might want to look back at your work on Kardashian and Rashford for the OSP topic here.


Grade 8/9 extension tasks: reading and response

Read this Independent article on the Kardashians and celebrity culture. Why does the academic Dr Meredith Jones think the Kardashians are important to study?

Read this Stylecaster article on 5 things we learned playing Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. How does the game encourage players so spend real money on in-app purchases?

Read this article on Glu Mobile, the game developer behind Kim Kardashian: Hollywood. What does the article say about targeting female gamers and using celebrity to sell the game?

Read this Guardian article on a Kardashian controversy regarding promoting products on Instagram. Why do some people regard Kardashian as a "toxic influence"? 

Complete for homework: due date on Google Classroom.