AS/A Level Media Studies

This A Level in Media Studies encourages students to study the media in an academic context and apply the knowledge and understanding gained to their own media productions. They develop critical thinking skills as they study the media in both global and historical contexts.

In year 1 you will study:

• The Media Theoretical Framework
• Advertising and Marketing: The Jungle Book (2016)-UK film posters and the UK teaser trailer
• Film: The Jungle Book (2016) - Extracts of the film only to be considered in relation to the media industry issues exemplified
• Magazines: two front covers of The Big Issue
• Music Video: Billie Jean (Michael Jackson, 1982) and Million Reasons (Lady Gaga, 2016)
• Radio: one complete episode of the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show
• Video games: Minecraft- Extracts of the video game only to be considered in relation to the media industry and audience issues exemplified
• Long Form Television Drama: Analyse one complete episode of the Netflix’s hit Stranger Things (2016), while looking at the media language, representation, industries and audience present within the show while also linking all relevant media contexts. 
• News and Online - Newspapers: one complete edition of the Daily Mirror and one complete edition of The Daily Telegraph and two front covers from the Daily Mirror and two front covers from The Daily Telegraph.
• Online, social and participatory media: The Mirror Online and The Telegraph websites and at least two articles from the Mirror Online website and at least two articles from The Telegraph websites plus relevant Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds from each news organisation.

Coursework

A different set brief each year creating adverts for various different products. The first three years have involved creating products for deodorant, food delivery and reality TV. You will have the choice of creating these in print or video form depending on what you are most comfortable and capable with.

In year 2 you will study:

News

Newspapers: learners must study the Daily Mail and The Guardian to inform their studies.
Online social and participatory media: learners must study the Mail Online and The Guardian websites, including social and participatory media to inform their studies.

Media Language and Representation

Music video: Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy and Radiohead – Burn the Witch
Advertising and Marketing: set media products for Old Spice (male grooming product advert), Lucozade (UK soft-drink advert) and Shelter (UK charity advert).
Magazines: two front covers of The Big Issue

Media Industries and Audiences

Film: The Jungle Book (1967) and The Jungle Book (2016) - extracts of the films only to be considered in relation to the media industry issues exemplified.
Radio: one complete episode of the BBC Radio One Breakfast Show
Video games: Minecraft- Extracts of the video game only to be considered in relation to the media industry and audience issues exemplified

Long Form Television Drama

Analyse one complete episode of the Netflix’s hit Stranger Things (2016) and critically acclimated German show Deutschland 83 (2015), while looking at the media language, representation, industries and audience within the shows and all relevant media contexts. 

Coursework (30% of final grade)

You will be given a brief focusing on creating a magazine front cover or a music video while also designing a website linked to these. You get to choose what brief you would like to cover deepening on where you feel your skillsets lie.  The options are print (e.g. magazine covers) or video (e.g. a music video).