Question 1

What is NCEA AS 91493 about?

Accepted Answer

This standard asks you to choose a media genre (like horror films, reality TV, or superhero comics) and explain how it connects to and influences society—or how society shapes the genre. You need to show you understand these two-way relationships and can discuss their broader impact, whether that's cultural, social, political, or technological.

Question 2

What do students need to do for AS 91493?

Accepted Answer

1. Choose a specific media genre and identify a particular society or audience (e.g. 1950s America, sci-fi fans, Gen Z social media users) 2. Explain how the genre and society influence each other—discussing what impact this relationship has had 3. Use detailed examples from actual media texts in your chosen genre to support your points throughout 4. Sustain your discussion of the genre across time rather than jumping from text to text or era to era 5. Develop a clear argument that directly engages with the chosen statement rather than relying on memorised essays

Question 3

What's the difference between Achieved, Merit, and Excellence for AS 91493?

Accepted Answer

Achieved: You explain a clear relationship between your chosen genre and society, using examples from media texts to show you understand how they connect. Merit: You analyse how the genre-society relationship has impacted and shaped both the genre itself and society over time, using detailed evidence to develop a sustained argument. Excellence: You evaluate the broader consequences of the genre-society relationship, showing you understand its nuances and complexities, and you apply your knowledge flexibly to the specific statement rather than relying on pre-prepared material.

Question 4

What mistakes do students typically make in AS 91493?

Accepted Answer

1. Structuring your response text-by-text or era-by-era instead of discussing the genre as a whole across time, which limits how deeply you can analyse the relationship 2. Using heavily memorised material or rote-learned essays on familiar genres, and trying to fit them to the statement rather than genuinely engaging with what the statement asks 3. Focusing narrowly on individual films or shows and their connection to one time period, rather than exploring how the entire genre has developed in relation to society

Media genre and society

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