AS Level MEDIA STUDIES (OCR) Courses

1 and 2 year courses

AS Course Outline

What Is Media Studies?
"Media Studies seeks to boldly go where no media text has been deconstructed before..."

Media Studies at AS does not require previous GCSE experience of the subject. It will be suited to students who enjoy analysing various media forms and genres. Students will have to deconstruct advertisements, newspaper front pages, soap operas and radio programmes.

Students will evaluate the control and ownership of the media and in who's interests it is run. They will apply critical media theories will be applied to examine gender roles and the depiction of race in the media.

There is a very large coursework element in Media Studies AS. Candidates will have to create a media product and two different pre-production media products. Students will have to put in a lot of effort and time in order to accomplish this component.

Students will face questions such as:
"How realistic are documentaries?"
"Do advertisements capture audience attention?"
"What methods does a director use while filming?"
"Should we believe news reporting in newspapers and on TV?"
"Are gender and race fairly represented in the media?"

What Skills Will Students Develop When Studying Media Studies?

  • Media Studies enables students to maturely understand how the media affects the audience and enable them to look behind the scenes of a media product.
  • Students will be able to use the media for their own benefit and will have a healthy grasp of issues that affect the production of different media.
  • After completing the subject, students will confidently be able to debate media issues and learn the skills of persuasive argument and counter-argument.
  • Students will develop their essay writing skills during the course and will have to assimilate information and present it in a clear and concise way.

Media Studies (OCR Board) AS Specification

Unit One
Coursework
50% of AS Exam

Foundation Portfolio in Media

This is a coursework unit where candidates' ability to plan and construct media products is assessed.
Set briefs are paired in order to provide progression from a preproduction, preliminary exercise to a more fully realised piece and will be in the same medium. This offers the opportunity for skills development to be assessed, as well as a final finished piece.

The following briefs are offered:

  • Print
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Website

Unit Two
120 minutes 50% of AS Exam

Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)

Textual Analysis and Representation:

  • Camera shots, Angle, Movement and Composition
  • Editing
  • Sound
  • Mise-èn-Scene

Institutions and Audiences -
One of the following media industries is chosen:

  • Film
  • Music
  • Newspapers
  • Radio
  • Magazines
  • Video Games

Structure of the Course
This course will be taught for 6 lessons per week. Homework will be set weekly and deadlines must be adhered to. Reading of textbooks and media coverage in broadsheet newspapers is essential.

Recommended Reading
AS Media Studies for OCR (2nd Edition) J.Bennett and T.Jones

Fees and Dates