Critical Investigations 2011

Level 4 (37-48 marks)
A fluent and analytical investigation which explores the chosen topic from a clear, autonomous and critical perspective, making use of extensive and wide-ranging research which has clearly been employed in the investigation and detailed in the bibliography, making use of a wide range of academic, media and contextual sources. The investigation demonstrates sophisticated research and engagement with the primary text(s) and a range of secondary texts. It is well presented with a very detailed bibliography/source list (AO4).
The investigation demonstrates sophisticated knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates relevant to the chosen area of investigation. The work contextualises the study and the linked production piece effectively within the contemporary media landscape (AO1).
At the top of this level candidates demonstrate very good understanding of the chosen area of investigation, very good, independent research skills and very good application of media concepts, contexts and critical debates. The link between the investigation and the production is cogent, clear and evident.

How are reality Tv documentaries, such as Wife Swap and Supernanny constructed? Why is this genre so popular?

In danger of losing its mainstream audience, terrestrial TV had to provide a “cheap alternative to drama” , which was found in “Reality TV”, a factual based genre with high entertainment values. - Shows sophisticated research introducing the topic of the critical investigation.

This is seen in Titicut Follies (Frederick Wiseman, 1967), a documentary about “the horrid conditions at a Massachusetts asylum” showing the “raw, hellish reality of living” there. The cinema verité style is also seen in Police (Roger Graef, UK, 1982), a popular “fly-on-the-wall documentary” . These documentaries showed real people in real situations, and this concept of “reality” is what programmes like Supernanny and Wife Swap aim to achieve. For example, Supernanny’s voice over provides specific information about the family, representing them as real people with real situations. We are given their names, “the Collins family”, we see them in their house and back garden. However, some may argue this is hyper-reality, "the simulation of something which never really existed" , and that audiences are unable to distinguish reality and constructed reality. - Shows understanding of media concepts/refering back to media terms and theories.

Both Supernanny and Wife Swap take full use of the codes and conventions of documentary, as it is a well regarded factual genre. These conventions include fly-on-the wall footage, voice over, interviews and music, which is seen in Wife Swap. - media concepts/ analysis of texts clearly.

"Reality TV couldn’t be the success story it is if it didn’t appeal to lots of different kinds of audiences” . Wife Swap is targeted at 16-45 year olds with a wider audience of 14-60 year olds. Interestingly, the documentary has the capability to appeal to all of Young and Rubican’s 4Cs as the documentary represents these people through their lifestyle and values, which audiences can identify and support. - Shows research skills

To conclude, Reality TV is constructed using conventions of documentary, to reflect its representations of the truth and reality. These fly-on-the wall documentaries represent themselves as “real”, but institutions mediate the content to reflect their own ideologies such as hegemony, to produce high entertainment values. However, we must consider audiences are becoming more active in their viewing, and there is a “heightened general awareness of fakery” in reality documentaries, affecting the reputation of “more serious, kinds of documentary” that it adopts from. Supernanny and Wife Swap are popular because they appeal to a wide range of audiences and reflect issues and cultural differences in society. - Shows sophisticated research and engagement with the primary texts refering to Supernanny and Wife Swap. Also  link between the investigation and the production is cogent, clear and evident.

Wide-ranging research which has clearly been employed in the investigation and detailed in the bibliography is showed in bilbliography in which Bianca used books, newspapers, the internet and moving image texts to provide evidence which shows wide ranging research over the three media platforms.