Media Studies

What does the course involve?

Developing your analytical skills to make sense of the key role the mass media plays in modern society. You study a range of media forms: media language, representation, media industries and audiences. You will also consider established media forms alongside more contemporary forms, developing your awareness of emerging and evolving media. This means that one week we might be looking at the Assassin’s Creed video game franchise and another week we might be looking at representation in a Beyoncé music video or how Disney market the American superhero Black Panther film and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Your coursework is audio visual, which could include shooting a music promotional video on location in Digbeth or creating a music magazine or online blog, incorporating digital technologies such as photography and film editing software. We encourage students to get involved in things which will generate a wealth of material for their multimedia CV and interactive elements which employers want to see. Our teachers have a strong industry background and have acquired specialist knowledge from their fields.

Course Outline

Students will research and write about a variety of media products. They will engage in classroom activities such as textual analysis, group discussion and practical work.

Component 1:

• Media Products
• Industries
• Audiences

Component 2:

• Media Forms
• Products in Depth

Component 3:

• Cross Media Production

Assessment

• 2 written exams: 2 hours 15 and 2 hours 30
• 200 marks
• 70% of A Level

Coursework 

An individual cross-media production based on two forms in response to a choice of briefs set by the exam board. This will incorporate digital technologies such as photography and photo manipulation and non-linear film editing software.

Exam Board
Eduqas