VCE Media

Media helps students understand how meaning and representation are created across different media forms. They explore media codes, conventions, and narratives in both traditional and digital formats such as film, television, photography, games, and online content. Students analyse how media influences audiences and society, with a focus on Australian fictional and non-fictional stories. They also create their own media products to apply their knowledge and develop practical skills. 

Media representations

Students develop an understanding of audiences and the core concepts underpinning the construction of representations and meaning in different media forms. They explore media codes and conventions and the construction of meaning in media products. Students analyse how representations, narrative and media codes and conventions contribute to the construction of the media. Students develop an understanding of the features of Australian fictional and non-fictional narratives in different media forms. They develop and produce representations to demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of each media form, and how they contribute to the communication of meaning. Students further develop an understanding of the concept of narrative in media products and forms in different contexts. Narratives in both traditional and newer forms include film, television, sound, news, print, photography, games, and interactive digital forms. Students analyse the influence of developments in media technologies on individuals and society. 

Areas of Study:

1. Media Representations

The work in this area is developed from an inquiring into a broad range of examples selected from a variety of media forms and genres. Advertising texts, in print and media, work well and can be sourced from a range of cultural and historic contexts.  

2. Media Forms in Production

Students will be able to use the media production process to design, produce and evaluate media representations for specified audiences in a range of media forms.

3. Australian Stories

Students will be able to analyse how the structural features of Australian fictional and non-fictional stories in two or more media forms engage, and are consumed and read by, audiences.

Narrative across media forms  

Fictional and non-fictional narratives are fundamental to the media and are found in all media forms. Media industries such as journalism and film-making are built upon the creation and distribution of narratives constructed in the form of a series of interconnected images and/or sounds and/or words, and using media codes and conventions.  New media forms and technologies enable participants to design, create and distribute narratives in hybrid forms such as collaborative and user-generated content, which challenges the traditional understanding of narrative form and content. Narratives in new media forms have generated new modes of audience engagement, consumption and reception.  In this unit students further develop an understanding of the concept of narrative in media products and forms in different contexts. Narratives in both traditional and newer forms include film, television, sound, news, print, photography, games, and interactive digital forms. Students analyse the influence of developments in media technologies on individuals and society, examining in a range of media forms the effects of media convergence and hybridisation on the design, production and distribution of narratives in the media and audience engagement, consumption and reception. Students undertake production activities to design and create narratives that demonstrate an awareness of the structures and media codes and conventions appropriate to corresponding media forms.

Areas of Study:

1. Narrative, style and genre

Students will be able to analyse the intentions of media creators and producers and the influences of narratives on the audience in different media forms.

2. Narratives in production

Students will be able to apply the media production process to create, develop and construct narratives.

3. Media and change

Students will be able to discuss the influence of new media technologies on society, audiences, the individual, media industries and institutions.

Media Narratives and pre-production 

In this unit students will undertake theoretical investigations to help them develop an understanding of film, television, or radio drama production. They will also explore and analyse narrative elements and structure, the relationship between media narratives and the contexts in which they were produced and discuss audience engagement. Students examine how production and story elements work together to convey meaning and they also develop practical skills through undertaking exercises related to aspects of the design and production process. Students will complete a media production design plan for a specific media form and audience. They present the relevant specifications as a written planning document, with visual representations that employ media planning conventions appropriate to the media form in which the student chooses to work.

Areas of Study:

1. Narratives and their contexts

Students will be able to analyse how narratives are constructed and distributed, and how they engage, are consumed and are read by the intended audience and present-day audiences.

2. Research, development and experimentation

Students will be able to research aspects of a media form and experiment with media technologies and media production processes to inform and document the design of a media production.

3. Pre-production planning

Students investigate the specific pre-production processes related to their selected media form. The then develop and document their investigation noting how it will relate to their individual Media project.

 Media production and issues in the media 

In this unit students focus on the production and post-production stages of the media production process, bringing the media production design created in Unit 3 to its realisation. They refine their media production in response to feedback and through personal reflection, documenting the iterations of their production as they work towards completion. Students explore the relationship between the media and audiences, focusing on the opportunities and challenges afforded by current developments in the media industry. They consider the nature of communication between the media and audiences, explore the capacity of the media to be used by governments, institutions and audiences, and analyse the role of the Australian government in regulating the media.

Areas of Study:

1. Media Production

Students will be able to produce, refine and resolve a media product designed in Unit 3.

2. Agency and control in Media

Students will be able to discuss issues of agency and control in the relationship between the media and its audience.