FSA 3 Assessment & Exam Prep

Assessment	Please describe assessment	Date of assessment	Weighting  %
Assessment 1	Portfolio for Evaluation Q1-4 average grade	8th  January -27th February	20%
Assessment 2	Final Coursework Products	12th February	40%
Assessment 3	Homework 700 words Regulators/Presentation	w/c 24th February	10%
FSA 3	Regulation 1hr Mock Exam in Gym	w/c 7th March	30%

Your question to prepare for the 1 hour Regulation Mock is:

"How far do changes to the regulation of media reflect broader social changes?"

Introduction
Purposes of regulation - to protect vulnerable or to uphold Moral Standards?
Summary of how Film, Tv or Games have changed over the years - stricter or more liberal with society.
Is all media considered equal & regulated as liberally/strict? Which? Should all regulators have a set standard across all media - does that mean 1 single regulator?
*Answer the question - your position in relation to regulation of the media: should there be a set moral standard that does not change across time/Is it the duty of statutory regulators to uphold/enforce moral standards/
What role does the individuals responsibility?Is regulation even possible in an increasingly online culture.

*Consider the debates over desensitization, Individual Freedom, scapegoating, technology and access

Para 2: BBFC introduction - history and key moments in responding to moral panics

• What changes have happen - 1984 Video Recordings Act,
• Liberalisation over the years - 'censorship' to 'classification'
• Using age ratings - not banned a film since 2011 (until last year)
• Past: Regulation to uphold moral standards - "By the few for the masses"
• Debates surrounding increasing liberalisation from Moral standards to individual freedom to choose at 18
• Protecting children and upholding Moral Standards to just protecting children. 1980s banned list of films = video nasties due to access to unregulated films through home video - imilar to internet?
• Refer to Case Study on 1980s Video Nasties (Evil Dead or Texas Chainsaw Massacre) & effects theories
• VRA 1984 brought in based on questionable research and conservative government agenda - only considered the Effects/Hypodermic Needle approach
• Refer to 1990s Jamie Bulger & Media Effects - scapegoating and copycat pressure on BBFC society more liberal?

Para 3: Case Study 1: Human Centipede 

• Why was it banned/refused a certificate?
• Was this effective in protecting children?
• Similarities of Moral Panics compared to above History of Video Nasties?
• Technology allows access to these films, filmmakers using this to cause controversy and gain notoriety. Where does this stop?
• Media effects arguments and similarities between the 2. HC2 was eventually released as 18 with 2 min 30 sec of cuts only. Catharsis and Use and Gratifications model: escapism, horror fans
• Whose responsibility is it to protect vulnerable/chuildren
• Debates Surrounding Regulation - is it the individuals choice? have we become more liberal as a society?

Para 4: Case Study 2: 'Hunger Games 12A' & '9 Songs'

• BBFC have different attitudes towards sex and violence
• Media Effects Theories that could apply
• Debates Surrounding Regulation - liberalisation of 'Art' vs sex work, and desentisation of violence, not banning films but regulating and certifying age appropriate content
• Conclusion - how does this address the question?

Para 5: Introduce OFCOM and history, aims etc

• What changes have happen - SUPER-regulator 2003, what existed previously ineffective? 
• Statutory relation with the current government
• What are their aims?
• Reactive to public complaints - effected by social changes and attitudes - via social media?
• Compare with BBFC their aims (protect vulnerable, respect right of individual to choose at 18) 
• Compare with BBFC their effectiveness - liberal vs strict, statutory vs self regulated, reactive vs proactive)  
• Influenced by political changes?

Para 6: Social Change - terrorism and showing disturbing images before watershed
Case Study 1: Woolwich Terrorist Attack - debate surrounding regulation overshadowed the terrorist event? 

• Bloody hands, knife and beheading - protecting children?
• Editorial Justified or Media Sensationalism/Moral Panic - "we could all be terrorists"
• Impact of technology in this case study and social change - desensitized to the violence using a phone, or to the existence of terrorism?

To consider in your answer:

1. Is the watershed effective?
2. Is the reactive nature effective?
3. How did their (less-strict) decision reflect the public interest in terrorism?

Para 6: Social Change - conservatism and twitter hate
Case Study 2: Benefits Street

• Class discrimination and Conservative government propaganda/legitimizing benefit cuts?
• Response to question - criminalisation/demonsisation/stereotyping of vulnerable/mentally ill/underclass/disadvantaged people. 
• Complains - protecting the vulnerable, showing criminal behaviour, protecting children in the show
• Media Effects Theories that could apply - Hegemony and Class Scapegoating 
• Debates Surrounding Regulation - who is regulating us? Statutory influence from a Conservative government? 
• Was this effective - reactive?
• Answer the question

Conclusion: 
Answer the question (you may want to consider)
Which regulator is stricter and why - Future prediction for regulation
How has regulation changed to reflect social changes - technology, morality, desentisation?
Which form has had changed most?
Should there not be a set Moral value not ever changing keeping up with society - guardians of morality?

Resources to revise from:

Regulation social issues from ctkmedia

Media effects debate from ctkmedia

Regulation arguments from ctkmedia