You need to know a few things...
(See 'Introduction to course' page for more info)
This is the Media A Level where you learn about film techniques, plan and make a short film, then learn to analyse newspapers, magazines and adverts as well as the way certain groups are represented by the media.
You'll need to be ready to learn about the industry, compare media texts and write an essay every two weeks resulting from your research both online and using the library.
50% of the course is the short film coursework - which includes a storyboard and post-film evaluation.
The exam is in June and will be a comparison of unseen material - perhaps a film clip, or a series of adverts, maybe two magazine front covers. From these you are expected to be able to accurately assess who the target audience is, the industry background to the text and use appropriate media language to explain the effect of the text, as well as placing it within in an historical context. The longer question will require you to go into more detail regarding the sociological issues that the texts might refer to - be it youth culture, minority groups, celebrity status and how these are represented within the media.
AS Media: 90% pass rate (A-C) 2015
That means 10% will fail - it's up to you not to be in that zone.
Why Media?
The 'Media' is a subject that is constantly changing on a daily basis; from phone-hacking scandals to Web 2.0 to Twitter campaigns to User-Generated Content (UGC).
One could argue that the study of this ever-changing phenomena has never been more important since most creative jobs in the marketplace expect a working knowledge of video production, advertising techniques or blogging. Indeed, not knowing about these skills might seriously curtail your earning ability.
As well as potentially working in the newspaper, magazine, film and TV industries, you might be employed in a charity to create online games or videos to raise awareness of an issue, or by a museum to make an amusing app' for a mobile phone. More importantly, media education is not just about making you employable, it is also important to know what is out there in terms of contemporary and foriegn films, how you can be targeted by the advertising industry, how the magazine and newspaper industries work and the nature of the British Film Industry.
It is a fascinating subject that will have you learning how to plan, make and evaluate a short film, critically assess an advert or film or poster design. You might also analyse the front page of a newspaper and magazine in terms of target audience - and consider the changing representation of age, race and class on our screens. All that and Web 2.0.
Homework for Week 1
Have a listen to the podcast by clicking on the link
It's about 10 mins; note down what they say, make a list of reasons for and reasons against studying media, type or write it out and present to me for next lesson.
So.....Essay
‘Why study Media?’ - The FOR and Against argument
•700 words.
Don't just regurgitate the podcast....Research other points....form an opinion!!!
Hand in completed or upload to Google classroom
You need to know why we're studying this and need to be able to articulate your thoughts if you want to pass AS Media.
