Media Studies
So why is studying the media important?
The media plays a particularly significant part in the lives of students (and people generally). For many it is their most important and time-consuming pursuit. The media are important economically, socially and culturally. They:
- Generate employment and profit
- Provide us with information about the political process
- Offer us ideas, images and representations that shape our views of reality
- Are the major means of cultural expression and communication
- Are now considered to be a major socialising influence
- The media are everywhere and are unavoidable in everyday life
- We use the media to make sense of the world in which we live
Our main aims are:
- To provide students with the critical tools necessary to carry out their own readings and investigations and to generate their own questions of the mass media. We want the students to develop an individual critical voice.
- To enable students to engage with theory, research and ideas relating to the media; to develop research skills; to study independently and to communicate effectively using media technology and the written form. We want students to become independent thinkers.
- To develop students' ability to explore the historical, social, political and economic contexts which surround media texts.
- To enable students to appreciate the creativity and imagination of media texts.
- To enable students to create imaginative, beautiful, clever and/or unusual media texts of their own.
At present we offer Media Studies for Years 12 and 13, but from 2009 the CREATIVE AND MEDIA DIPLOMA will be offered at Key Stage 4, as part of the national launch of the new diplomas.
Enrichment activities are highly valued by the Media Studies team and over the last couple of years we’ve attended media events in London, as well as organising workshops and talks in college.
Media Studies Advanced Level AS/A2
Entry Qualifications: Minimum of 5 GCSE grade C or above. Students are expected to have a good standard of written English.
Course Details:
The course offers the opportunity to study a range of media - film, television, radio, newspapers, magazines etc. Media Studies will show you how to deconstruct and analyse the media constructions which surround us.
Despite what the press choose to tell us, Media Studies is not just sitting around watching television. Extended essay writing is an important part of our course as we work towards the exams. However, you will have plenty of opportunity to work on creating your own video films, podcasts, webpages, posters, magazine pages and so on.
Media Studies comprises 4 units of assessment; 2 units in Year 12 and 2 in Year 13.
Unit 1 - Investigating Media
2 hour written examination
Two sections: A – four compulsory short answer questions; B – choice of one from two essays.
This is an introductory module, during which you’ll learn and use the terminology for media analysis.
Unit 2 - Creating Media
Practical unit, internally assessed and externally moderated.
For this unit you will create TWO linked production pieces taken from a brief set by the exam board. This is your chance to be creative and show your understanding of media production.
Next Steps: Media Studies develops analytical skills and encourages communication skills. Therefore, it is an excellent preparation for a wide range of Higher Education courses.
Unit 3 - Critical Perspectives
2 hour written examination.
Two sections: A – three compulsory questions on unseen stimulus pieces; B – one essay from a choice of two topics.
The section of the Media Studies course teaches you to consider WHY a text is as it is, with more focus on the wider contexts and theories that can be applied to a media text.
Unit 4 - Research and Production
Practical unit, internally assessed and externally moderated.
Two sections: Critical Investigation. Linked production piece.
This unit gives you the opportunity to focus on independent research, to be presented as a 2000 word report or in some other format. You will also create an artefact of some sort e.g. a trailer; a viral advertisement etc.
Next Steps: Media Studies develops analytical skills and encourages communication skills. Therefore, it is an excellent preparation for a wide range of Higher Education courses.