How is religion portrayed in the media?
What image does religion have on Ashley - Emmerdale TV?
Cadfael – Fr Ted Cadfael – medieval detective
The Simpsons
Coronation St – Emily Bishop
Vicar of Dibley
Example question
a. Describe religious programming on TV
Recap: Religious programming
• Religious or moral programmes can appear in: • The ‘God Slot’ – a programme that is specifically made for people who are interested in religion. It would usually appear at a particular time on a Sunday morning or evening. Eg Songs of praise, the ‘Heaven & Earth’ Show
• In ordinary programmes like Soaps, documentaries etc. that have religious or moral themes.
Case study
• We are going to watch an episode of Father Ted
• You need to answer the question on the sheet
Feed back..….
• What were the religious theme(s)/ideas?
• Why do you think they have chosen religious people like priests as the focus for this comedy? • Are religious people portrayed fairly in this programme?
Extended writing
In the exam, the last section is an extended writing section. The answers you give need to be more detailed than in the normal a, b, c, d style questions.
This is an example……..
(a) Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world. Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view. Your answer should refer to specific television programmes. (8 marks)
Now answer the following in your books using Father Ted:
(b) Television always presents religious people as out of touch with the modern world.
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view. Your answer should refer to specific television programmes.(8 marks)
Outline you can follow: Briefly explain what Father Ted is about Look at reasons why it may show religious people as out of touch with the modern world (Living in a world of their own/ not part of normal life/ old fashioned ideas and beliefs/ does not reflect reality – real priests are not like that/ does not show religious belief as something that makes people’s life better) Look at other side of argument (It is not meant to be real – it’s a comedy/ it still shows the characters in a likeable way/ Irish Catholics would recognise the ideas in the comedy –it exaggerates what some priests may be like but in some ways they can be a bit eccentric)
Your views – what do you think – are they shown as out of touch? Give good reasons for why you think
Plenary
• • • Level 1 for an opinion supported by one relevant reason. (2 marks) Level 2 Two or three basic ‘for and against’ ideas supported by religious/moral evidence or examples, written in sentences. (4 marks)
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Level 3 for three or four more detailed ‘for and against’ ideas supported by religious/moral evidence or examples, written in sentences and using some technical words (6 marks) Level 4 for four or more detailed and reasoned for and against ideas, including religious evidence or examples, giving a personal conclusion using specialist terms well. (8 marks)
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