AS Media Studies

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AS Media Studies

• Welcome!

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Introduction

• Welcome to AS Media Studies.
• You are about to embark on an exciting journey of
  discovery and learning.
• Lets begin!

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Individual Introductions

• 1 Minute
• Tell me something interesting about yourself
  e.g. family/friends/ what you did in the
  summer/important events in your life etc.
• Tell me what you like about studying the media.
• Tell me what you hope to gain from this years
  course

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What is the Media?

• 'The media' refers to the different channels we
  use to communicate information in the everyday
  world.
• 'Media' is the plural of medium (of
  communication), and the main media are

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What is the Media?

• Television
• Magazines
• Film
• Radio
• Advertising
• Pop music
• Newspapers
• The Internet

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Your Favourite
Media Favourite Reason
Television programme
Film
Magazine
Radio programme
Advertisement
Pop song
Newspaper
Internet site
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What is Media Studies?

• Media Studies involves the close analysis of the
  images, sounds and text that we experience via
  the media. It is the study of individual media
  texts (such as films, TV shows, magazines,
  websites) and
• Who made them ("institution")?
• How they were made ("process")?
• Why they were made ("purpose")?
• Who they were made for ("audience")?
• What rules were followed when making them
  ("conventions" and "genre")?

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What is Media Studies?

• As well as essays, research, and reports, Media
  Studies also involves practical work, where you
  learn the techniques involved for the production
  of your own media text. You might produce pop
  videos, TV commercials, magazine advertisements,
  computer animation, photo-essays and documentary
  videos. Media is a 'learn by doing' subject, and
  you compare your own experiences with what the
  'professionals' go through. Most of our
  production in school is done digitally (i.e.
  using computers) and we have the latest software
  and equipment to help with this.

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What is Media Studies?

• Media Studies can be taken as a GCSE, AS or
  A-level course and many students go on to study
  it at university. Success in this subject comes
  from a combination of creativity and
  understanding. It is a unique fusion of practical
  and theoretical learning, which, although it can
  be hard work and very time consuming, is always
  rewarding. It's also a lot of fun - what other
  subject deals with your favourite movies, pop
  stars and TV programmes?

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Why is it so Important?

• As we progress into the 21st century,
  communications are becoming faster and faster and
  faster. Think of the millions of different media
  images you are bombarded with every day. It is as
  important now to be able to read and make sense
  of those images, as it has been to be able to
  read ordinary text.
• If you do not know how to read the messages
  coming at you from TV, the Internet, advertising
  etc, then you may become very lost in the modern
  world.
• You also need to have a good idea of how those
  messages are made, and who is making them, so
  that you may quickly become aware if someone (or
  some corporation!) is trying to manipulate your
  thoughts and feelings.

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Why is it so Important?

• Media Studies is also about appreciating the
  skill and creativity which goes into the
  production of media texts. Just as analysing the
  different techniques used in the creation of a
  poem or novel helps you appreciate the talent of
  the writer, so does learning about media
  techniques help you appreciate value the skill
  with words and pictures that the creators of a
  media text must possess.

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Why is it so Important?

• Media Studies also deals with the very latest
  ideas and products (new media technologies).
  Although you do need to have some understanding
  of the history of media (particularly how new
  technological developments have changed things),
  the focus of your studies is what is happening
  right now, buzzing round the airwaves of the
  globe.

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OCR Course
Unit Level Name Mode of Assessment Duration Weighting AS A2 Weighting AS A2
2730 AS Foundation Production Coursework - 40 20
2731 AS Textual Analysis Written Examination 2 hours 30 15
2732 AS Case Study Audiences and Institutions Written Examination 1 hour 30 15
2733 A2 Advanced Production Coursework - - 20
2734 A2 Critical Research Study Written Examination 2 hours - 15
2735 A2 Media Issues and Debates Written Examination 2 hours - 15
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Aims of the Course

• This course is designed to facilitate
• The development of media literacy skills to
  enable you to achieve critical independence in
  your knowledge, experience and enjoyment of the
  media.
• The development of technical and creative
  production skills to encourage imaginative and
  aesthetic activity in media contexts

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Aims of the Course

• The aims of the AS specification are
• To foster your understanding of methods used to
  construct meaning, through analysis and
  production of a range of media texts
• To develop your knowledge and understanding of
  media institutions, production processes,
  technologies and audiences, and your ability to
  apply that knowledge to specific instances of
  media
• To enable candidates to apply critical
  understanding of how social groups are
  represented (and represent themselves) in the
  media
• To develop your technical skills and ability to
  be creative and communicate through the
  production of their own media texts
• To enable you to develop appropriate techniques
  for recording, monitoring and evaluating their
  own media production processes, in the light of
  key concepts studied in the course

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Unit 2732 Case Study Audiences and Institution

• This unit assesses your knowledge and
  understanding of media institutions, production
  processes, technologies and related issues
  concerning audience consumption and reception
  (AO2)

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Unit 2732 Case Study Audiences and Institution

• Your set topic is New Media Technologies
• The examination is one hour long and you are
  required to answer three questions, two of which
  are set on a written extract provided on the
  examination paper, related to each topic. One of
  a choice of two essay questions must be answered
  from the candidates knowledge of the case study.

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Unit 2732 Case Study Audiences and Institution

• This unit develops your knowledge of media texts,
  in the context of their medium and genre, by
  relating media texts, through the case study, to
  Media Institutions and Media Audiences.

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Assessment Objectives

• At AS Level you will be assessed on your ability
  to
• AO1 Understand how meaning is constructed
  through the language of specific media forms by
  applying techniques of textual analysis to a
  range of media.
• AO2 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
  media institutions, production processes,
  technologies and audiences and apply this
  knowledge to specific instances of media
• AO3 Show an understanding of how social groups
  are represented, and represent themselves, in the
  media comparing messages, values and social
  signification in media texts
• AO4 Plan and construct a media text from a
  prescribed brief, demonstrating technical skills
  and the ability to be creative and communicate
  meaning, showing understanding of concepts such
  as audience, genre, representation and form
• AO5 Record, monitor and evaluate the process of
  your own media production from planning to
  outcome, using appropriate medium- specific
  technology and paperwork in the light of the key
  concepts studied.

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AS Media Studies

• Lets enjoy it!