OCR GCSE Media Studies
A guide to the B322 exam
Question 4b: Pleasure in TV Comedy
15 marks | 15 minutes
What will the question look like?
The exam will ask you one of two questions:
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Discuss in detail how one programme offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme
OR
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Compare the audience pleasures offered by two comedy programmes. Give examples from the programmes.
What should I revise?
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Your notes listing the pleasures within at least two episodes of each programme
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Your detailed handout (from me) on the pleasures found in each programme. (This info is also contained in pleasures pages found by clicking on the buttons to the right.)
How should I revise?
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Practise writing out your exemplar answers, ensuring that you practise answers for the two different types of typical questions (i.e. for one programme and for two programmes).
Key tips:
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DO give in-depth examples: OCR says, “Some very good answers explored no more than three pleasures in depth” - in depth means providing at least two specific examples of those pleasures taken from more than one episode.
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To clarify, mentioning that the audience can relate to the situations in The Inbetweeners counts as one pleasure (identification). Giving two examples would count as when they attempt to get served in a pub (episode 1) and when they bunk off school (episode 2).
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Of course, you then need to go on to suggest why this might appeal to the audience. In this case, because the young target audience would be able to relate to these situations.
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DO cover a range of pleasures (transgressive, narrative, identification, familiarity - DON'T just say that it's funny)
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DON'T write generalizations like “The Inbetweeners is funny because it makes you laugh which audiences like.”
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DO briefly explain how a pleasure works then concentrate on explaining and exemplifying how the text offers it
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DON'T get carried away with praising the text because you liked it. “The Inbetweeners is hilarious and I think it’s brilliant…” This answer is poor. Your answer should be an analysis of specific pleasures using precise examples.
