There has been a significant increase in the growth of the media’s role in our daily lives. Due to this, a variety of skills are needed to fully explore and enjoy the dynamic range of media texts. Increased access to digital media offers us new opportunities for creativity and self-expression.

 

The AS and A level specifications in Media Studies are designed to encourage candidates to:

• enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of the media and its role in their daily lives

• develop critical understanding of the media through engagement with media products and concepts and through the creative application of production skills

• explore production processes, technologies and other relevant contexts

• become independent in research skills and their application in their production work and in developing their own views and interpretations

 

AS Programme outline:

MS1: MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS AND RESPONSES

50% of AS Grade

Written exam 2 1/2 hours Summer Term

This unit aims to provide students with a framework for analysing the media and requires them to explore representations and audience/user responses. Students will be encouraged to explore the media through a study of genre, narrative and representation and make connections between the texts and audience/user responses to them. In the developing area of interactive media, this involves considering users and their interaction with texts. The representations of social/cultural groups, events, issues and their underlying messages and values will be explored using a range of approaches.

 

MS2: MEDIA PRODUCTION PROCESSES

50% of AS Grade

Coursework

This unit is designed to enable students to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in media production processes through research, planning, production and evaluation. Students will be required to produce three pieces of linked work. Example briefs include creating your own magazine, producing an advertising campaign, filming a music video or thriller trailer.

 

A2 Programme outline: 

MS3: MEDIA INVESTIGATION AND PRODUCTION 

50% of A2 Grade

Coursework

This unit develops the knowledge and skills acquired at AS. In particular, it is designed to demonstrate the importance of research in informing media production and to develop the skills acquired in MS2. Students will be required to produce three pieces of linked work. Briefs are individually chosen with students.

 

MS4: MEDIA – TEXT, INDUSTRY AND AUDIENCE 

50% of A2 Grade

Written exam 2 1/2 hours Summer Term

This unit is designed to develop students' understanding of the connections between different elements and to develop their knowledge and understanding of the relationship between media texts, their audiences and the industries which produce and distribute them.

Progression from AS is demonstrated through this emphasis on the relationship between text, audience and industry and the debates surrounding the nature of that relationship. Students’ understanding of the media will also be more informed by appropriate theoretical perspectives.

 

Subject specific minimum entry requirement:

GCSE Grade C in English