Subject: Media Studies
Syllabus Number: AQA 8572
Teacher who leads the subject: Mr G Evans
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Why study Media Studies?
YOU are already a Media Studies expert! You are surrounded by and interact with the media every day whether it’s through watching and making films, vlogging, reading a magazine or newspaper, or putting your opinions out there via Twitter and Instagram or a YouTube channel. The media shapes all aspects of our world from entertainment, communication and culture through to politics and society. It is therefore vital that you understand how industries and producers get their messages to audiences and how media can impact your life.
Outline of syllabus content
You will explore every stage of a media product’s journey through the four Media Studies Key Concepts: Media Language looks at how products are constructed through images, editing and use of text. Representation looks at how people, places and ideas are portrayed through these products. Industry focusses on the companies and producers behind the media and Audience takes account of who consumes media.
Alongside this will be invigorating theory and activity lessons which will enable you to engage with a range of contemporary, relevant media texts. The Units of Study and their set texts* include:
- Print Advertising (Quality Street; This Girl Can)
- Film Marketing and Industry (James Bond)
- Magazines (GQ and Pride)
- Newspapers (The Sun and The Guardian)
- Radio and Podcasts (BBC Sounds and The Archers)
- Video Games (Fortnite)
- TV Sitcom (Friends and The IT Crowd)
- Music Video and Online Media (Taylor Swift, Pharrell, TLC)
In your lessons and your free time, you will have exclusive access the Film and Media Department’s Apple Mac edit suite, our camera equipment and our fully equipped media classroom. You will also get the chance to do a piece of practice magazine coursework in the latter part of Y10, so you can hone your skills before undertaking the real thing in Year 11. Classroom-based lessons will push all of your learning buttons through a variety of delivery methods – textual analysis of clips, IT desktop publishing and Photoshop sessions, location shooting, storyboarding, team work, case studies to name just a few! This is an essential subject for anyone interested in starting a business, working in the media industry, or the media department of any modern organisation.
Following on from GCSE Media Studies, you will be well equipped to then join us for A-Level Film Studies and/or Media Studies, although you can take either of these even if you haven’t taken GCSE Media Studies.
*all subject to change.
Assessment
The coursework element (30% of GCSE) will test your independent practical skills in response to a thematic brief which changes each year. Your coursework can be in one of the following forms:
- Magazine
- Film Marketing
- Music Video
- TV Sequence
- Website
There will also be two exam papers (worth a total of 70% of the qualification) which between them test your knowledge and understanding of the four Key Concepts of Media Studies - Media Language, Audiences, Industries and Representations. The papers contain a range of multiple choice, short and long form answers which will enable you to display both broad and in depth responses. Many of the set texts listed above will be part of the exam, as well as an unseen product.
Additional information is available on the Curriculum Overview section of the website - click here