Lessons
What is Media Studies?
Media Studies explores media forms such as TV, film, advertising, publishing, music, online content and gaming. You'll analyse this content through a number of media texts and develop an understanding of how they are designed to create meaning and appeal for their target audiences, as well as their role in contemporary culture.
The A-Level is an academic study, as opposed to the BTEC, and you'll develop an understanding of how media texts are created and ‘coded’ in order to carry meaning to their various target audiences, how and why media texts are created, the theories that explain how they carry meaning, and the ways in which they may be interpreted by audiences. You will explore and debate how different groups are represented in society, media coverage of key events, as well as possible futures in media. As part of your A-Level you'll explore a foreign language text, independent and older texts in addition to contemporary examples.
Alongside this analysis, you'll have the opportunity to put your knowledge and understanding into practice via coursework, in projects such as creating a film opening, a music video, a digipak, a print advertisement or a website. The coursework is also a chance for you to develop your practical skills, such as desktop publishing, film making and editing.
You will undertake tasks individually, in groups and sometimes as a whole class with discussion on a range of issues requiring you to think, question and challenge your own ideas as well as others.
Year 1
Studying & Assessment - AS Level
AQA
Your AS level focuses on four media areas:
- Media language - how different modes and language associated with different media forms communicate multiple meanings
- Media representation - the way events, issues, individuals and social groups are represented through processes of selection and combination
- Media industries - the processes of production, distribution and circulation by organisations, groups and individuals in a global context
- Media audiences - how audiences are grouped and categorised by media industries, including by age, gender and social class, as well as by lifestyle and taste
Media Language and Media Representations will be taught in relation to the media forms:
- advertising and marketing
- magazines
- video games
Media Industries and Media Audiences will be taught in relation to:
- television
- music video
- film (industries only)
All of the media themes will also be taught in relation to:
- radio
- newspapers
- online, social and participatory media
As well as an exam at the end of Lower Sixth, you'll also be required to create a media product worth 30% of your final grade.
OCR
You'll learn three themes during your AS Level:
1. The Media Theoretical Framework, learning about the media forms:
- Film
- Advertising and Marketing
- Radio
- Magazines
- Video Games
- Music Videos
2. Long Form Television Drama
Engaging in one in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form.
3. News and Online Media
Two linked in-depth studies that focus on contemporary news in the UK, requiring you to explore how and why newspapers and their online counterparts are evolving as media products and the relationship between both online and offline news.
At the end of your AS Level you'll be required to take one exam exploring these themes. You'll also have the opportunity to put your knowledge and understanding into practice via a coursework unit which requires you to create a media product. The brief will be set by the exam board each year.
Year 2
Studying & Assessment - A Level
AQA
Your A-level focuses on four media areas:
- Media language - how different modes and language associated with different media forms communicate multiple meanings
- Media representation - the way events, issues, individuals and social groups are represented through processes of selection and combination
- Media industries - the processes of production, distribution and circulation by organisations, groups and individuals in a global context
- Media audiences - how audiences are grouped and categorised by media industries, including by age, gender and social class, as well as by lifestyle and taste
At the end of Upper Sixth you'll take two exams both worth 35% of your final grade.
Your first exam will explore your knowledge in:
Media Language and Media Representations in relation to:
- advertising and marketing
- music videos
Media Industries and Media Audiences will be taught in relation to:
- radio
- newspapers
- film (industries only)
Your second exam will explore your knowledge in in-depth media forms of television, magazines and online, social and participatory media/video games.
As well as your exams, you'll also be required to create a cross-media product worth 30% of your final grade. Informed by detailed research, your brief will be set by the exam board each year and might include options such as: producing a range of marketing materials for a new TV documentary to include a trailer, or creating a music video with an accompanying promotional webpage.
OCR
Over your two years you'll learn:
1. Media Messages
News and Online Media - Two linked in-depth studies that focus on contemporary news in the UK, where you'll explore how and why newspapers and their online counterparts are evolving as media products and the relationship between both online and offline news.
Media Language and Representation - You'll explore media language and representation, through:
- magazines
- advertising and marketing
- music videos
2. Evolving Media
Media Industries and Audiences - You'll explore media industries and audiences, through:
Long Form Television Drama - You'll engage in one in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form. You'll study one complete episode of a contemporary English Language long form TV drama and one complete episode of a non-English Language long form TV drama.
At the end of your two years you'll be required to undertake two exams - Media Messages and Evolving Media - both of which are worth 35% of your final grade. You'll also be required to undertake a coursework unit and construct a cross media production, informed by detailed research. The briefs will be set by the exam board each year and might include options such as: producing a range of marketing materials for a new TV documentary to include a trailer, or creating a music video with an accompanying promotional webpage.
Assessment
As well as the practical component, you'll also have to undertake exams. Exams will test your knowledge via a range of questions relating to unseen sources and close study. You'll have to respond via essays, extended responses and synoptic questions.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Depending on your college it's likely that you'll need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C or above. You'll also need a grade 4 in English language and English literature.
What's Next
Next Steps
After taking Media Studies you can go on to uni to study either media or a media-related degree. If taken with other A-levels, it is also welcome as an entrance qualification, for you to study anything from English, to History or Geography. As the subject encourages the development of analytical, written and practical skills appropriate for a career in a range of media, it's also a great starting point for an entry-level job or apprenticeship in media.
Skills
Skills
Through the academic part of this course and the hands-on element, you'll learn a range of skills including:
- Analysis
- Managing time and resources - especially in completing your practical element
- Practical and creative skills - you might learn a specific skill such as Adobe Premier Pro
- Research - especially through your practical element
- Written communication - in your essays and exams
Resources
Resources
Online Courses
Revision
Websites and Blogs
Other Subjects
What should I study Media Studies alongside?
Media studies sits comfortably alongside a range of other subjects. As an academic humanities subject it naturally complements other similar subjects including history, English literature, English language, philosophy and film studies.
The course does contain an element of creativity via the coursework and may be suited to those students wishing to further develop in this area or combine it with other creative courses. Remember that this is not a vocational course.
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
If you're looking to get a head start on your Media Studies A-Level ask your teachers what your set texts are for the next two years so you can get going! As you'll probably be interested in media, how about trying to watch something you wouldn't normally dip into, or even you generally like the media of tv or film, how about immersing yourself in podcasts or radio?
