AS/A2 Media Studies

We live in a media saturated world – this course will enable you to become media literate by drawing on your existing knowledge and experience of film, television, radio, newspapers, and the internet.

Media Studies will explore the role that the media play in your own life and the power and impact that they have in our society.

The course is extremely diverse and allows you to gain creative and technical experience as well as theoretical knowledge.

We have excellent facilities including:

• Two digital editing suites equipped with 36 Macs and Final Cut software.
• Media lecture rooms with digital projectors and interactive whiteboards.
• Digital cameras, tripods, microphones, mini-disk recorders etc.

We actively encourage our students to become young film-makers and enter their work in student film festivals.

We have links with local media organisations and students have gained work placements with various companies including Channel M, in Salford and 92.5 Cheshire FM radio station.

What are the entry requirements?

The standard College entry requirements apply.

What will I study and how will it be assessed?

We follow the WJEC specification. Both AS and A2 Media Studies comprise 50% Coursework assessment, 50% written examination.

AS Level

Media Representations and Responses

Two and a half hour written examination (50% AS Grade).

We will study a wide range of different media forms, genres and texts (including films, video games, TV programmes, magazines etc.), focusing on detailed textual analysis, representation and audience.

The exam will comprise:

• One unseen analysis of a media text.
• Two broader questions focusing on key concepts where you will be able to discuss the case studies you have undertaken in class.

The work undertaken in this unit may inspire ideas for your creative work.

Production Work – Coursework Assessment (50% AS Grade).

You will research, plan and create a new media product.This will include:

• A pre-production task (e.g. a storyboard or script).
• A complete product – for example the trailer for a new British comedy film or a TV documentary about a local band or sports team.
• A written evaluation of your research and creative work – this can be presented as a report, essay or blog.

A2

Text, Industry and Audience

Two and a half hour written examination (50% A2 Grade).

We will study three media industries (e.g. Music, Film, TV, Newspaper, Advertising), focusing on three texts per industry (e.g. for the music industry we might analyse CDs from three very different genres such as rap, indie and metal). We will explore ownership issues as well as audiences and their responses to the texts. This theoretical work can be used to inspire your creative work.

The exam will consist of three broad questions, focusing on textual analysis, audience and industry.

Production and Research Work – Coursework Assessment (50% A2 Grade). The production portfolio consists of two linked projects:

An individual Research Investigation into an area relating to your production work e.g. researching narrative in contemporary music videos or film.

A Production Project e.g. a music video for a song of your choice or a film sequence ( e.g. thriller or social realism). You must work in a different form to your AS project.

You will also produce an individual evaluation of your creative work which can be presented as an essay, presentation or blog.

Does Media Studies link particularly well with other subjects?

• Film Studies (for the really keen!), Art, Graphics, Theatre Studies, Music Technology, Performance Studies.
• Sociology, English Language, Business Studies.
• A university degree in Media Studies (e.g. TV production or a more theoretical course) or a related area such as Film or Cultural Studies.
• A university degree in Media Studies combined with another subject.
• The course allows students to develop a range of skills that are transferable to other areas of study as well as employment.
• In 2010 62 SJD students went on to study a Media related course in Higher Education.

This is a dynamic and exciting course, providing students with a broad range of skills and opportunities for the future.