A2 Media Studies. Student Handbook. Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull. Name:

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1 A2 Media Studies Student Handbook Tudor Grange Academy, Solihull Name:

2 Course Breakdown Specification AQA GCE Media Studies (2570) MEST 3 Perspectives 50% of AS, 25% of A Level - 2 hour written examination 80 marks Two sections: A. Three compulsory questions on unseen stimulus pieces B. One essay from a choice of two questions on an individual case study MEST 4 Research & Production 50% of AS, 25% of A Level - Practical unit, internally assessed and externally moderated 80 marks Externally set production briefs. Two sections: Investigation (48 marks) Linked production piece (32 marks) Course Content At A2 candidates will build on their AS work to look more fully at the contexts of media production and consumption students must attempt to answer why as well as how texts are created as they are. As well as building on the concepts studied at AS, candidates will look at some or all of the media debates and theories that are featured later in this booklet as appropriate. Media Concepts Media Forms Media Representations Media Institutions Media Audiences Media Platforms Broadcasting Print Web-based media (e-media) Along with being able to analyse 2 unseen media products in the examination, unit 3 requires students to carry out an independent research case study of an area of the media that will be used in answering section B responses. For unit 4 students will produce a 2000 word critical investigation essay that will deal with an area of the media that the students are interested in. Along with the investigation students must create a one off fully realised media product that links to the essay.

3 Year Structure Term Teacher 1 Teacher 2 Coursework 1 Sept-Dec MEST 3 Perspectives MEST 3 Perspectives MEST 4 Research & Production 2 Jan-Apr Section A Introduction to section A questions and style of questions along with an attempt to answer a range of different exam questions. Section B Introduce Identities in the media case study MEST 3 Perspectives Section B Once coursework has been started and students have handed in first drafts of the essays the students will be introduced to the Impact of new and digital media case study. MEST 3 Perspectives Students will begin the year with the first term being taken up with coursework research and writing with teacher 2. The students will then be expected to complete their coursework independently to meet the following deadlines: Investigation First lesson back after half term holiday in October Section B Identities in the media case study. Section B Impact of new and digital media case study. Linked Production First lesson back after Christmas holiday in January. 3 Apr Jul Revision and exam practice for MEST 3: Section A and B.

4 Assessment Objectives MEST 3 Perspectives AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and media concepts, contexts (and critical debates). AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes (and evaluating your own practical work) to show how meanings and responses are created. MEST 4 Research & Production AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and media concepts, contexts (and critical debates). AO3 Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills. AO4 Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research. Unit 3 (Maximum UMS mark = 100) Section 1 of exam (unseen material) is worth 40% Section 2 of the exam (individual case study) is worth 60% Mark range Grade A B C D E 0-39 U Unit 4 (Maximum UMS mark = 100) Mark range Grade A B C D E 0-39 U

5 Media Debates/Issues & Theories Media Debates Representation Media effects Reality TV News Values Moral panics Post 9/11 and the media Ownership and control Regulation and censorship Media technology and the digital revolution changing technologies in the 21st century Media Theories Media analysis Semiotics Structuralism and post-structuralism Postmodernism and its critiques Politics and the Media: Gender and Ethnicity Marxism and Hegemony Liberal Pluralism Colonialism and Post-colonialism Consumption and Production Audience theories Genre theories

6 Cinematography Key Technical Terminology Camera angles: extreme close up, close up, medium shot, long shot, extreme long shot, birds eye view, worms eye view Camera movement: tilt, track, pan, zoom and follow. Focus: out of focus, in focus, pull focus (this is when the focus is adjusted from one thing to another in one shot) Zoom - Camera moves closer to a character or focus Follow - The camera physically follows the subject at a more or less constant distance. Pan - Horizontal movement, left and right. Tilt - Vertical movement of the camera angle, i.e. pointing the camera up and down Track - movement which stays a constant distance from the action Sound Diegetic and non-diegetic Parallel and contrapuntal Parallel is when the music we hear (non-diegetic) works in parallel to what we see on screen whereas contrapuntal is where the music DOES NOT suit what we see on screen e.g. a violent scene with happy up-beat music. Sound bridges sound to link two scenes together Ambient sound - the background noise present in a scene Sound effects Editing Cut - One image is suddenly replaced by another, without a visible transition. Jump Cut - Where two shots appear to "jump from one to the other. Cross-dissolve - One image dissolves into another. Fade up - An image gradually fades in Fade out - An image gradually fades out. Wipe - One image replaces another without dissolving, with the border between the images moving across or around the screen. Mis En Scene Setting (including location) Costume Props Lighting/colour Performance: gesture & body language

7 Performance Descriptors at A2 Media Studies Grade Description A/B Performance Descriptor AO1 - Demonstrate knowledge and media concepts, contexts and critical debates detailed knowledge and understanding of media concepts b. create and sustain well organised and coherent arguments linked to media contexts and critical debates c. structure and organise their writing using an appropriate register d. communicate content and meaning through expressive and accurate writing. AO2 - Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes (and evaluating own practical work) to show how meanings and responses are created an informed media forms, codes and conventions b. explore through detailed analysis of media products and processes how these aspects create meaning c. evaluate their own work with close reference to these aspects and the shaping of audience or user response. AO3 - Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills a. research, plan and construct a media product selecting appropriate technical and creative skills b. demonstrate controlled and creative use of the selected technology. AO4 - Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research an informed understanding of research skills selecting appropriate methods b. present relevant and detailed research findings and conclusions c. produce a critical and reflective evaluation of the process and its outcomes. E/U performance descriptions knowledge and media concepts b. develop arguments linked to media contexts or critical debates c. structure and organise their writing d. communicate content and meaning using straightforward language accurately. an Informed media forms, codes and conventions b. explore through detailed analysis of media products and processes how these aspects create meaning c. evaluate their own work with close reference to these aspects and the shaping of audience or user response. research skills and methods b. present relevant research findings and conclusions c. produce a reflective evaluation of the process. a. research, plan and construct a media product using technical and creative skills b. demonstrate the creative use of the selected technology.

8 Resource List The following textbooks may be useful as an introduction to the concepts and contexts of the course. Many students find AQA Media Studies AS: Student Book as an extremely useful aid when attempting independent homework. The other resources are excellent books but they are a little more specifically tailored to individual interest in certain areas of the course. - AQA Media Studies A2 Study Guide. Andrews & Stevenson (2009) - Revision Express AS and A2 Media Studies by Mr Ken Hall and Philip Holmes (2008) - Understanding Film Theory by Christine Etherington-Wright & Ruth Doughty (2011) - Media Studies: Theories and Approaches by Dan Laughey (2009) - As Seen On TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950s. Karal Ann Marling (1994) - Beginning Postmodernism. Woods (1999) - Beginning Theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory. Barry (2002) - Comic Book Movies. Hughes (2003) - Film Theory & Criticism: Seventh Edition. Braudy & Cohen (2009) - Oxford Dictionary of Film Studies. Kuhr (2012) The following websites may provide information throughout the course and could be helpful in certain cases where the text books do not provide adequate responses: In order to assist you with elements of the course, particularly the e-media platform, you will be exploring how blogs, wikis, social networking sites and the use of viral marketing contribute to the current media landscape.

Introduction to Comparative Study

Introduction to Comparative Study The comparative study question asks you to compare and contrast two texts under one of the three modes of comparison. The comparative modes for the exam in June 2014 are: