Head of Department - Miss N. Watson

The Media Studies department is relatively new to Don Valley, with the first GCSE course running in 2005. The Department has a brand new, purpose-built Media Suite comprising:

• 22 Apple Mac Computers with industry standard technology
• 10 Digital camcorders
• 10 Digital cameras
• 2 Interactive Whiteboards
• Facilities to create websites and pod casts

The Media Room

The Media Studies department aims to provide pupils with an awareness of how the media affects our everyday life, from the newspapers we read to the television we watch. It forms a part of our consciousness, sending messages and values out about the modern world in which we live. Media Studies will encourage pupils to critically analyse a wide range of media texts, using key media concepts and then use this knowledge to research, produce and edit their own media work to a professional standard.

Media Studies in the Curriculum

At Key Stage 3, Media Studies is taught as part of the English Curriculum. The students will study:

Year 7 - Introduction to Comics, marketing, fan bases and comic collectors, graphic animation. Pupils make their own comic using Comiclife.

Year 8 – Pupils analyse the cinematic techniques in Jaws, comparing the film to the novel. Pupils will also complete a scheme of work on Big Brother analysing how the programme has become successful and how the editing process is used to manipulate reality.

Year 9 – Pupils complete a unit studying advertising techniques. They then script, storyboard, film and record their advert controlling the whole process. Pupil then use iMovie to edit the movie, adding sound effects, transitions, special effects and voice-overs, eventually saving the project as a professional DVD.

GCSE Media Studies (WJEC)

During the course, pupils analyse and produce a range of media products considering audience, media organisations, narrative, genre and representation. The aim is to encourage a critical awareness of how the media works and its relevance to individuals and social groups. Pupils are also expected to create their own professional media products. The course aims to study as wide a range of media genres as possible including the exam topics set by WJEC. Media topics could include:

• The music industry
• CD Covers
• Film
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Radio
• The internet
• Comics and cartoons
• TV dramas
• Reality TV, game, talk and chat shows
• Advertising
• Sport reporting
• Any other relevant media genre
  

Course Assessment

Coursework 50%

• Textual analysis
• Pre-production
• Production

Examination 50% (2 ½ hour)

• Section A
  4 questions on a still image (e.g. newspaper, magazines)

• Section B
  4 questions on audio-visual material
  

Gallery

A Level Media Studies

What do I study?

AS

Module 1 Reading the Media

(Understanding key concepts and decoding media texts).

Module 2 Textual topics in Contemporary Media

(Compare two media texts:

• Film and Broadcast Fiction
• Documentary
• Advertising and Marketing
• British Newspapers)

Module 3 Practical Production Coursework

(Using media technologies to create a text e.g. A trailer for a horror movie, a photo story, a pop video).

A2

Module 4 Texts and Contexts
(Study two media texts in detail)

Module 5 Independent study
(Analyse a specific text/topic according to social, historical, political and economic contexts e.g. The representation of women in contemporary cinema)

Module 6 Comparative Critical Analysis
(Coursework assignment connecting the different elements of the course)

Entry Requirements

Usually four or five GCSEs at grade C and above (C and above in English/ English Literature or Media Studies is desirable but not essential).

An interest in the media and how it represents and shapes the world that we live is in very important.

Recommended Reading at GCSE

• GCSE Media Studies, (2002) Clark and Harvey
• Looking at Media Studies for GCSE, (2003) Bowker
• GCSE Media Studies for WJEC (2004) Esseen, Phillips and Riley
• Key Concepts and Skills for Media Studies (2003) Clark, Baker and Lewis
• More Than Meets the Eye, (1997) Burton (Glossary style overview of key concepts).

Recommended Reading at A Level

The above books, plus:

• AQA Media Studies AS Module 1: Reading the Media
• AQA Media Studies AS Module 2: Textual topics in Contemporary Media
• AQA Media Studies AS Module 3: Practical Production
• AQA Media Studies AS Module 4: Texts and Contexts in the Media
• AQA Media Studies AS Module 5 Independent Study
• Essential Word Dictionary AS/A Level Media Studies

All of these books are available from Phillip Allan Publishing.