AS MEDIA STUDIES 2010/11




AS Units



Foundation Portfolio in Media (G321) 50% of AS Coursework


Key Media Concepts TV Drama (G322) 50% of AS Exam



Foundation Portfolio in Media (G321)

Preliminary exercise: using DTP and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a new school/college magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close-up plus some appropriately laid-out text and a masthead. Additionally candidates must produce a DTP mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demonstrate their grasp of the program.

Main task: the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine

All images and text used must be original, produced by the candidate, minimum of FOUR images per candidate.

The coursework will be submitted via a student BLOG. This will include planning, research, final production, evaluation and audience feedback.

Assessment

Planning 20%

Construction 60%

Evaluation 20%





Key Media Concepts TV Drama (G322)

Two hour examination with 2 questions: Section A & Section B

The content below represents what candidates should learn and is also provided as the source of the questions in the examination papers.

Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation

Candidates should be prepared to analyse and discuss the following: technical aspects of the language and conventions of the moving image medium, in relation to the unseen moving image extract, in order to discuss the sequence’s representation of individuals, groups, events or places:

Camera Shots, Angle, Movement and Composition

Editing

Sound

Mise-en-Scène

Candidates should be prepared to discuss, in response to the question, how these technical elements create specific representations of individuals, groups, events or places and help to articulate specific messages and values that have social significance. Particular areas of representation that may be chosen are:



Gender Age Ethnicity Sexuality Class and status Physical ability/disability Regional identity







Section B: Institutions and Audiences

Candidates should be prepared to understand and discuss the processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange as they relate to contemporary media institutions, as well as the nature of audience consumption and the relationships between audiences and institutions. In addition, candidates should be familiar with:

• the issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice;

• the importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing;

• the technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange;

• the significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences;

• the importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences;

• the issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions;

• the ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.

Learning through case studies within the contemporary British magazine market, including its patterns of production, distribution, marketing and consumption by audiences. This should be accompanied by study of the use of online magazine editions and the issues that they raise for the production, marketing and consumption of a magazine brand.

Assessment Objectives



Candidates are expected to demonstrate the following in the context of the content described:

AO1



Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates, using terminology appropriately and with accurate and coherent written expression.



AO2



Apply knowledge and understanding to show how meanings are created when analysing media products and evaluating their own practical work.



AO3



Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills.



AO4



Demonstrate the ability to undertake and apply appropriate research.