Introduction to AS Media Students

AS Media Studies:

• Lesson Aims:An introductory lesson aimed to provide an overview of the course and what is expected of you as a AS Media student

• Lesson Objectives:• Introduction to Media Studies• Introduction to ilearn resources

AS Media Introduction Session: Tuesday 10th September 2013 (2 sessions)

Introductory Lesson Pack

Tracking Sheets – taking ownership of your work

Our Expectations of Students

• Full attendance• Punctuality – lesson starts at 9.00!• Mature and open dialogue with

staff• Come prepared to work• Be pro-active not reactive

Our Rules

• No mobile phones in class! Any student accessing or looking at their mobile (unless its part of a class based exercise) may have it confiscated or asked to leave the lesson. Repeat problems will require your parents involvement.

• No food & drink in class.• Do not sit in the corridor or cause an

obstruction

Ensure you have lined A4 paper, pens, A4 folders/binders and all the materials that are required as standard for an A level student.

•Keep and use a diary (hard copy or electronic but remember no mobiles in class) to organise the work you are given.

•Open a Google Documents or other account asap – useful way to move work around, including, coursework, research and essays.

•Purchase the required text book asap – often cheap & second hand on Amazon.

Key requirements for a successful year

•Read the Course Handbook on iLearn – provides useful information on the course and helpful guidance.

•Join our twitter feed @parkmediandfilm •These are your first homework tasks!

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What is the Media?

• Television• Magazines• Film• Radio• Advertising• Pop music• Newspapers• The Internet

What is Media Studies?

• Media Studies involves the close analysis of the images, sounds and text that we experience via the media. It is the study of individual media texts (such as films, TV shows, magazines, websites) and

– Who made them ("institution")?– How they were made ("process")?– Why they were made ("purpose")?– Who they were made for ("audience")?– What rules were followed when making them

("conventions" and "genre")?

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Why is it so Important?• Media Studies also deals with the very latest ideas

and products (new media technologies). Although you do need to have some understanding of the history of media (particularly how new technological developments have changed things), the focus of your studies is what is happening right now, buzzing round the airwaves of the globe.

AS Media StudiesThe AS course comprises of two modules:

MS1 Media Representations and ResponsesExamination module based on three sections (June)

MS2 Media Production ProcessesCoursework module (February/March)

Unit MS1 – Media Representations and Responses(Exam module): Comprises of three sections:

1) TextsHow technical codes, genre codes and narrative codes are used in different media to create meaning

2) RepresentationsHow media texts use the concept of representation to create meaning

3) Media ResponsesFocus on audiences, will need to consider the ways in which different audiences canrespond to the same text in different ways.

AS Media Studies

Unit MS2 – Media Production Processes(Coursework module)

AS coursework is print-based with a number of different optionsYou will be required to produce 3 pieces of work:-

1) a pre-production reflecting research and demonstrating planning techniquesAn artefact of 2/3 A4 pages that is produced as a direct result of research and planning you have undertaken

3) a reportA 1600 word report that discusses research, planning, audience and production

2) a production An artefact of 2 or 3 A4 pages that is linked to the pre-production artefact in some way

AS Media Studies

Month Notes AS September

Induction (2 weeks) – first assignment set. Unit MS2 – initial research & intro.Unit MS1 – Texts – semiotics introduced.

October

Unit MS2 introduced – students commence planning & research through the pre-production phase. Proposal form completed by candidates.

November

Unit MS1 – Representations theory introduced.

December

Unit MS1 – Combined & comparative work for texts and representation.

January

Unit MS2 Production phase – independent study & workshop sessions in GH226 Turing Suite.

February

Unit MS2 – final production phase for coursework package.

March

Unit MS2 Deadline – see ilearn for detailsUnit MS1 – Audiences & Genre/Narrative

April -May

MS1 - Revision and mock exam practice

June

MS1 ExaminationMoving On programme

This or an earlier edition is fine!

The Media Student’s Bookby Gill Branston & Roy Stafford (Routledge)

New and recommended!£14.99 from Amazon

AS Media Studies -Study & Revision GuideBy Christine Bell

You need to take responsibility for your learning.

We expect you to be on-task in lessons and take advantage of opportunities we will give you for extra input and revision.

In summary…