A-Level Media Studies

Taster Session
THE BEST IS YET TO
COME…
An introduction to key concepts in
media studies
In this session we will be
An introduction to key concepts in
media studies
In this session we will be
•Analysing conventions in a thriller film
•Thinking about key concepts
• Editing a sequence of shots
• Learning and applying key terms
 What is Media Studies ?

o r y
studying a range of different media texts, including
hetelevision drama, new technologies, film four .We explore
T their impact on individuals, society and what audiences
and academics say about them.

a l
c tic
P ra allows students the opportunity to make a range of texts
to show there understanding of the theory. This might
include skills tasks such as continuity editing, as well as
documentary making, film sequences and so on.
 A/S LEVEL MEDIA STUDIES
OCR SPECIFICATION
A/S
G321: Fo undat io n Po rtfoli o in Medi a
• Candidates produce two paired media
artefacts from a series of briefs.
A continuity exercise
The opening sequence to a fiction film ( max 2
minutes)

G322: Key Medi a C oncept s (TV Drama )

• Candidates gain an understanding of textual
analysis, representation, institutions and
audiences.
Study an Industry – Film Four
Study TV Drama
 Overview of units
A/S
Unit 1- Case Study of the Magazine Industry
• Analysis of magazines
•Research into ownership
•Documentary about careers in magazines
Unit 2 – Skills for Media Production
• Research Skills
•Production Skills
•Unit 3 Media Production Brief
•Individual Brief based film production
 WHAT IS MEDIA
STUDIES?
a study of the METHODS and
EFFECTS of mass communication

AUDIO- PRINT-
VISUAL BASED
MEDIA MEDIA
ICT-BASED
Television Newspapers
MEDIA CROSS-
Film MEDIA Magazines
PCs
Radio FORMS Comics/Cartoon
Blogs s
Video News
Websites Posters
Photography Advertising
Digital technology Direct Mail
Music
Interactive/Multi-
media
 Media
Text
we refer to all media messages as ‘the text’
it is a general word referring to the
image, sequence or sound being studied -
could be a whole poster or part of a
radio/TV programme.
 THE MEDIA
a collective word for institutions &
techniques used to send media texts to
audiences
Media
Text

Institutions
Audience

it is made up of different mediums like

television, radio, internet, film, advertising,
etc
 Institutions
Who is communicating, and why? Representation
What type of organisation or How does it present its subject?
company is behind this text? Why
have they made it? What are Is it fair, accurate or honest?
they trying to do? How was it What meanings does it attempt to
financed? create about the people, places or
things within it? Genre
What type of text
Audience is it?

Who receives it and What is it?

Key Concepts
what sense do they Is it similar to
make of it? other texts I’ve
seen why?
Who is meant to
watch/see this? What
type of person? Am I
part of this audience?
Why is it aimed at them?
Technologies
Media Language How is it produced?
How do we know what it means? What techniques and
equipment were used?
What interesting elements within
What is the quality of the
the text encourage me to think
text? Has it been limited by
certain things? Can I comment on
resources or does it look
the shots; lighting; props; or
this way for a reason?
music etc?
What’s a Thriller?
Firstly thriller is a broad term that is used
in film marketing, as a positive selling
point for many types of film.
• It can mean:
• Action
• Edge of the seat
• Thrills
• Excitement
• Suspense
• Enigma/ Intrigue/ Puzzle
Generic hybrid – two or more genres together

Sub Genre – a separate branch of the family

• Political Thriller
• Espionage- ‘ spy’
• Action
• Psychological
• Supernatural
• Slasher/ Stalker
• Legal Thriller

Problematic because . . .
 Anything could in theory be a thriller. A
thriller does however have a set a codes
regardless of specific sub-genre that cover
mise-en-scene, camera angle shot
movement and position, editing, sound, and
narrative.
In addition to this each sub-genre will have
specific conventions
 What’s the difference?
• Convention – The specific ingredient - Potato
• Code – What you do with it – The Recipe
THEY BOTH RELATE TO AUDIENCE
EXPECTATIONS OF A GENRE FILM
• Thrills come from dread
• Scared in a safe place
 Codes can be analysed according to
the technical aspects used
• Camera, angle shot movement and position
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene
• Special effects
• Narrative
What Lies Beneath
 Codes of the Thriller Genre
Code and Example Camera, Angle Editing Sound Mise-en-Scene
Definition shot
movement
and
Position

Cheap
surprise
The hand that rocks the cradle
 Codes of the Thriller Genre
Code and Example Camera, Angle Editing Sound Mise-en-Scene
Definition shot
movement
and Position

Cheap
surprise

Red
Herring
 Editing Exercise
• Editing is a vital element of any media
text.
• Shortly you will put together a scene –
thinking about generic conventions and
codes of sound and editing.
• Watch the clip and note down what
these editors say about editing for
suspense
 Clip from ‘Se7en’
APPRE CIA TING C AMERA
LANGUAGE:
CREA TE AN SU SPE NS E
SE QU EN CE .
The Scenario
Mills ( Brad Pitt) has finally
tracked down the serial killer to
his address and is closing the
web on him, then…
 I-Movie
Importing footage &
Editing
 Clip from ‘Se7en’
APPRE CIA TING C AMERA
LANGUAGE:
CREA TE AN SU SPE NS E
SE QU EN CE .
The Scenario
Mills ( Brad Pitt) has finally
tracked down the serial killer to
his address and is closing the
web on him, then…
Clip from ‘Se7en’
Look at how the clip was actually
edited and how the sound was
used.

Why do you think the director

made the decisions they did?
 Theory Into Practise

Preliminary Exercise Example

Example One

Example Two

Example Three
Your Coursework is
submitted as a blog with
video links on you tube and
photograph/document links
in scribd, glogster and
photobucket!

Here are a couple of examples

• http://mala.edublogs.org/
• http://sandeepsb.edublogs.org/
 How does AS Level differ from GCSE ?

Mise-en-Scene Verisimilitude

Contextual analysis

Ideology Expressionism
 WHY STUDY THE MEDIA?

WHO OWNS/
CONTROLS THE
MEDIA?
DOES IT SHAPE THE
WAY WE THINK?

WHY DOES IT GIVE

DO WE LEARN PLEASURE TO
ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE?
WORLD/REALITY?
 What do I need to be
Successful in Media
Studies ?
• A good level of written English
• Able to contribute to debates
• Interest in contemporary issues
•An open mind
What skills will I develop on
the course ?

• Presentation skills
• Research skills
• Practical skills – using digital
cameras, image manipulation
packages, editing machines
•Social Skills
 The Difference between A/S Media
Studies and A/S Media Communication
and Production
• Media Communication and • Media Studies
Production

• No exams • 1 exam worth 50% of

• Follow on C grade/
foundation GCSE
• Lots of small practical
assignments
• 3 units per year –
transferable skills work
• Lots of individual work
• Set issue based brief
the course
• Cover a wide range of
topics/ mediums – tv,
magazines, films, radio,
new technology
• 2 distinct units
• Group work
• Set film brief