Media Studies

Aims and Objectives

The media play a central role in contemporary culture, society and politics. They shape our perceptions of the world through the representations, ideas and points of view 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 generate significant global profit. The globalised nature of the contemporary media, ongoing technological developments and more opportunities to interact with the media suggest their centrality in contemporary life can only increase.

The WJEC specification studied at Archbishop McGrath offers learners the opportunity to develop a thorough and in depth understanding of these key issues, using key concepts and a variety of critical perspectives to support critical exploration and reflection, analysis and debate. The study of a wide range of rich and stimulating media products is central to the specification, offering opportunities for detailed analysis of how the media communicate meanings in a variety of forms. Learners will work from the product outwards to debate key critical questions related to the social, cultural and economic relevance and impact of the media.

Through studying media products holistically in relation to all key concepts, learners will engage with the dynamic relationships between media products, media industries and audiences. Learners will also consider established media forms alongside more contemporary forms, developing an awareness of the relationship between media forms and online platforms.

Choice and flexibility are a vital part of the specification, enabling teachers to select the most appropriate, relevant and engaging products for their learners to study in both examination units.

This specification also recognises the fundamental relationship between theoretical understanding and practical work, providing learners with exciting opportunities to develop media production skills in different forms, apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework to media forms and products, and become creators of meaning themselves.

Learners will be offered a choice of briefs and forms within which to work, enabling them to explore and pursue their own media interests.

This specification enables learners to:

• understand the relevance and impact of the media and its role in their daily lives

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the global nature of the media

• develop skills of enquiry, critical understanding and analysis of the media through engagement with media products and concepts and through the creative application of practical skills

• explore and understand relevant contexts of media

• develop an understanding of the dynamic and changing relationships between media forms, products, media industries and audiences

• develop their independence when researching and creating practical work and forming their own views and interpretations • analyse and apply critical perspectives to media products

• evaluate their own practical work.

This specification also gives learners an opportunity to produce extended written responses and demonstrate the quality of their written communication, including appropriate use of punctuation and grammar.

I chose Media Studies because I enjoyed it when I was doing it at GCSE level, and I wanted to go further into my studies to learn more about it. Also, it will help me in the future because I would really like to go in to film and Media Studies A Level would help me with this because a part of the course is leaning about film.

I have enjoyed study the film section of the course as you get to do deep analysis of films. The course has also helped my get a wider appreciation for Welsh film.

I am looking forward to learning about newspapers and the news industry because I think it will help me to understand how news media is constructed.

Media Studies is also useful because it links in with the enterprise part of Welsh Baccalaureate as you study advertising so you will have a better idea of how to advertise your product in the most efficient way.

Finally, if I am looking to do a film course at university, a Media Studies A Level will be good because it shows I have some knowledge on the subject.

Peter - AS/A2 Media Studies