Media Studies

Media Studies
Level 3
AS and A2
Duration 1 - 2 years

What will I study?
AS: At AS level you will study how representations are created by the technical aspects of UK television drama production. This includes textual analysis of programmes such as Hollyoaks, Skins, Sharpe and The Bill. You will also study the production, distribution and exhibition processes involved in the British and Hollywood film industries, focusing on how films are made and target their audiences. Your coursework will be print production and involve working with graphic design and desktop publishing software Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXpress. You will learn how to use these by producing 4 pages of a brand new music magazine.

A2: At A2 level you will study media in the online age, investigating how advancements in internet technology have changed people's relationship with media texts such as music, films and magazines. For your coursework, you will produce a moving image product, such as a music video, along with marketing or supporting print materials for this. Part of your examination will also focus on an evaluation of your technical and media production skills over the two years.

Assessment
AS: A mixture of 50% examinations and 50% coursework.

A2: A mixture of 50% examinations and 50% coursework.

Useful supporting courses
Links very well with English subjects, Art, Graphics, Soiciology, Psychology and ICT in particular.