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Media Studies

Curriculum Intent

The media play a central role in contemporary society and culture. They shape our perceptions of the world through the representations, viewpoints and messages 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 media terrain is something our students have a great deal of experience with; accessing it constantly via their mobile phones and tablets. However, Media Studies teaches them to question and critically evaluate the media they so easily access. Exploring the representations that are constructed, we hope to broaden their perspectives to engage with issues surrounding gender, ethnicity, identity and politics.

The economic importance of the media is also unquestionable. The media industries employ large numbers of people worldwide and operate as commercial industries on a global scale. We explore the different job roles in the structures of media conglomerates and independent media companies.  The global nature of contemporary media, coupled with ongoing technological developments and more opportunities to interact with the media, suggest that their centrality in contemporary life can only increase. This subject offers students the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of these key issues and the ability to debate important questions about the media.

Our ambitious curriculum for Media Studies at DSTC is designed to:

  • Offer learners the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of these key issues and the ability to debate important questions about the media.
  • Allow learners to draw on their existing experience of the media, but  also aims to extend their appreciation and critical understanding through the study of products with which they may be less familiar, including products for different audiences and from different historical periods.
  • Allow learners to apply and develop their knowledge and understanding of media language and representation in relation to media forms and products, and become creators of meaning themselves.

Complementary Subjects:

English and English Literature, Art and Photography, IT, History, Business and marketing,  Sociology and Film and TV studies.

KS4
KS5

KS4

 

Once our students have selected Media Studies at Key Stage 4, the course focuses predominantly on contemporary media that is contextualised and enhanced through the exploration of  products from different historical periods. Through studying both established and evolving media forms, students will gain a real awareness of the role of the media in society and culture.  The study of a range of rich and stimulating media products is central to this course, working from the product outwards to develop an appreciation and understanding of the Media. Students will draw on their existing experience of the media, but will also extend their appreciation and critical understanding through the study of products with which they may be less familiar, including products for different audiences. Students are also offered exciting opportunities to develop media production skills. They construct 3 pages of their own media magazine which responds to a brief set out by the exam board. We follow the EDUQAS exam board.

 

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

Year 10

Component 1 texts: Quality Street advert and MWTGG

Component 1 texts: 111 advert, MWTGG and No Time To Die

Component 1 texts: No Time To Die industry, Fortnite

Component 1 texts: Fortnite and GQ 

Component 1 texts: Vogue and Desert Island Disc

Component 1 texts: 111 advert and 
NEA planning and research

Year 11

NEA Coursework, Component 1
Newspapers: The Guardian and The Sun

The Sun Industry and Audience and Component 2
TV crime: Luther/Trigger Points and The Sweeney

TV crime: Component 2Luther/Trigger Points and The Sweeney

Component 2Music Videos (Rio Duran Duran, The Man Taylor Swift and Superheroes Stormzy) and the Taylor Swift and Stormzy  websites

Revision

 

Further Reading/Resources:

Further Reading/Resources:

KS5

 

Our passion and challenge aims to encourage a student's interest in all areas of the media and develop their cultural awareness of the impact it can have on society. If students choose to study A Level Media Studies this course is designed to provide a coherent, integrated and in-depth approach to studying the media, enabling learners to develop and apply their understanding of the media through both analysing and producing media products in relation to  the key concepts and advanced theoretical approaches and theories. students are encouraged to make connections: between different media forms and products, between media products and their contexts, and between theory and practical work. In addition, students will develop the ability to reflect critically on both media products and theories used to analyse media products.

They are taught to question the ever-changing media landscape around them and the purpose of the  messages that are being constructed. This varies from politically charged newspaper front covers to online content created by influencers such as 'Zoella'. Students will study a wide range of texts from the mediums of: advertising, film promotion and marketing, music videos, newspapers, video games, radio, TV, magazines and online media.  Altogether, our curriculum prepares our students for an aspirational post-18 career path studying  Film Studies or Media Studies which will enable them to study Film, Media and creative courses at university or enter careers in the Film and Media industry.

 

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

Year 12

Introduction to Media

Component 1 texts:Tide Media Language, Representation and audience and Kiss of The Vampire Media Language and Representation

Component 1 texts:Black Panther: Industry and I, Daniel Blake Industry

 

Component 1 texts:
Woman’s hour industry and audience.
Super. Human. Media language, representation and audience.

Component 1
Introduction to music videos and Riptide media language and representation texts:Riptide and Formation media language and representation

Component 1 texts:Assassin's Creed Industry and audience, NEA planning and Research 

Year 13

Component 1 texts: Newspapers: The Times and The Mirror

Component 2:

Black Mirror and The Returned

Component 2:

Vogue and The Big Issue

Component 2:

Attitude and Zoe Sugg

Revision

 

Further Reading/Resources: