Media Studies

GCSE Media Studies at Nunnery Wood

“The media plays a central role in contemporary society and culture. They shape our perceptions of the world through the representations, viewpoints and messages they offer. The media have real relevance and importance in our lives today, providing us with ways to communicate, with forms of cultural expression and the ability to participate in key aspects of society. The economic importance of the media is also unquestionable. The media industries employ large numbers of people worldwide and operate as commercial industries on a global scale. The global nature of the contemporary media, coupled with ongoing technological developments and more opportunities to interact with the media, suggest that their centrality in contemporary life can only increase.”

This course offers students the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of these key issues and the ability to debate important questions about the media. It introduces them to a theoretical framework for analysing all forms and genres. Here at Nunnery, we provide an enriching experience to students’ experiences as they explore a range of challenging media texts and platforms, as well as providing an opportunity to achieve an extra qualification. Media underpins a number of other subjects, such as English, photography, art, computing, and business studies. Each student will look at print, audio, and audio-visual media texts and develop an independent, thoughtful, critical voice.

This subject is taught in the Enrichment Block of the school’s option process, and is allocated one hour a week on a student’s timetable.

Staff:

Ms S Moody (Teacher Responsible for the Course)

Email: s.moody@nunnerywood.worcs.sch.uk

Assessment Content:

Component 1: Exploring the Media
 
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
40% of qualification

Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation
This section assesses media language and representation in relation to two of the following print media forms: magazines, marketing (film posters), newspapers, or print advertisements.
 
There are two questions in this section:
One question assessing media language in relation to one set product (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
One two-part question assessing representation in relation to one set product and one unseen resource in the same media form.
Part (a) is based on media contexts.
Part (b) requires comparison through an extended response.
 
Section B: Exploring Media Industries and Audiences
This section assesses two of the following media forms: film, newspapers, radio, video games.
 
It includes:
One stepped question on media industries
One stepped question on audiences.
 
Component 2: Understanding Media Forms and Products
 
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
30% of qualification

This component assesses all areas of the theoretical framework and contexts of the media in relation to television and music.
 
Section A: Television
One question on either media language or representation, which will be based on an
extract from one of the set television programme episodes to be viewed in the examination
(reference to relevant contexts may be required)
One question on media industries, audiences or media contexts.
 
Section B: Music (music videos and online media)
One question on either media language or representation (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
One question on media industries, audiences or media contexts.
 
Component 3: Creating Media Products
 
Non-exam assessment
30% of qualification
An individual media production for an intended audience in response to a choice of briefs set by Eduqas applying knowledge and understanding of media language and representation.
 
The briefs will always specify the intended target audience, as well as other key requirements such as genre/style.
 
E.G Advertising and Marketing: Film
Print-based marketing material for a new film.
 
In order to ensure that an undue amount of time is not spent on the production, all phases of the production – aims, research and planning and the production itself – should be completed over a period of no longer than twelve weeks.

Year 10
Term 1:
·      Introduction to key concepts
·      Advertising and Marketing
Term 2:
·      Advertising and Marketing (continued)
·      Entertainment and Leisure
Term 3:
·      Entertainment and Leisure (continued)
·      NEA Preparation and research
 
Year 11
Term 1:
·      The News
·      Television Drama
·      Revision for mock exams
Term 2:
·      Television Drama (continued)
·      Music Videos and Online Websites
·      Revision