Media & Film Studies
Course Overview
Media Studies is designed to enhance your enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of the media and its role in your daily life. The course introduces you both to media ideas and the practice of production, which gives you the chance to develop a real understanding of media platforms, the contemporary media landscape and the influential role of the media in today’s society. This course helps you develop these relationships with the media. As a consumer you’ll become more aware of the many ways in which media messages are presented to us, as well as discovering how the institutions which produce and distribute media products are trying to reach you. Using the most up to date technology, utilising the capabilities of Apple iMacs and associated software, you will create work of a professional standard that will showcase your technical and creative capabilities.
Examination Board:
EDEXCEL
Entry Requirements:
Grade 5 in English Language/Literature.
You must have the required qualifications for the Advanced Pathway.
Course Level:
A Level – Level 3
Assessment Objectives
Section A: News and Online Media
This section consists of 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.
Section B: Media Language and Representation
You will explore media language and representation, through media products set by OCR in the following media forms – magazines, advertising and marketing and music videos.
02: Evolving media (35% of total A Level) 2 hour written examination.
Section A: Media Industries and Audiences
You will explore media industries and audiences, through media products set by OCR for – radio, video games and film.
Section B: Long Form Television Drama
You will engage in one in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form. You must 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 to inform your study.
Non-Exam Assessment: Making media (30% of total A Level) You will create a cross-media product in response to an OCR set brief relating to TV, music video, magazine, radio or film.
What skills will I develop?
| Detailed knowledge and understanding of how media texts are constructed through the study of form and conventions | |
| How audiences are targeted and manipulated by media texts | |
| How media institutions operate on a domestic and global scale | |
| How to construct media texts using the conventions of a range of mediums Application of media theory Academic research skills |
How will I be assessed?
Media messages (35% of total A level) 2 hour written examination.
Evolving media (35% of total A Level) 2 hour written examination.
Non-Exam Assessment: Making media (30% of total A Level) You will create a cross-media product in response to an OCR set brief relating to TV, music video, magazine, radio or film.
Is there anything else I should know?
Media Studies is for you if you want a course which balances examination and coursework production, if you want to develop your creative and technical skills in media production and if you already enjoy analysing and discussing media you have watched or read. You don’t have to have studied Media Studies at GCSE level to be able to succeed at A Level. The course is designed to integrate students who are new to the subject as well as those who have studied previously.
Progression Routes
Media Studies naturally leads to careers in journalism, marketing, advertising or public relations. Awareness of how the world of media works can also support other careers, such as social work, law and education. By knowing how the media operates you’ll be able to interpret information more skilfully, and engage with topics that interest you. Students work individually as well as in groups which is attractive to employers as it demonstrates a focus for work as well as social skills required to work with others. Students studying Media Studies will also be using industry standard software on Apple iMacs to equip them appropriately for a variety of careers within the Media industry as well as other design and/or ICT based jobs.