Media Studies
Media Studies explores the content, history and effects of the media on audiences. It evaluates the impact the media has on society by analysing its ways of communicating messages and ideologies. Media Studies explores areas such as:
· Understanding and evaluating media language across different media platforms (TV, advertising, radio, music, magazines, newspapers)
· The representations and stereotypes used in the Media
· The different types of audiences and audience theories
· The evaluation of media institutions and industries, and the power they have
To effectively prepare for Media Studies, you will need to be aware of the following key terms:
Audience – The recipients of a media text, or the people who are intended to read or watch or listen to it. A great deal of media studies work is concerned with the effects a text may have on an audience.
Institution/Industries – A formal organisation (with its own set of rules and behaviours) that creates and distributes media texts, for example BBC, Netflix etc.
Representation – The way in which the media "re-presents" the world around us in the form of signs and codes for audiences to read. This may have strong links to stereotypes and clichés.
Media Language – The techniques and devices used within media texts and products that are used to communicate meanings and ideologies to audiences.
Compulsory Tasks – handed to your teacher FIRST LESSON BACK:
1. Research 2 media institutions/industries. You will need to produce a short summary of each (500 words) explaining the history of the institution and how it works.
2. Collect, read and summarise/annotate newspapers or magazine articles/front pages on each on the following representations: (minimum 3 articles)
a. Age
b. Gender
c. Current Affair/Current Event
d. Place
You should aim to write about what an audience can ACTUALLY see and then what an audience may be able to WORK OUT from the images, text or composition. You could also consider your own opinion as you are an audience.
3. Research the following theories:
Audience –Reception Theory - Stuart Hall / Representation –
Feminist Theory – bell hooks
Media Language –
Semiotics – Roland Barthes / Institution –
Power – Curran and Seaton
Your research can be presented in any format i.e. bullet points, mind-maps, paragraphs but must include detailed points and an example to support your notes.