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A Level & Further Education
Further Education/Sixth Form courses and The Media
Student's Book (MSB)
How does MSB support my course?
MSB can be used for both media studies and film courses across
a range of examination boards and levels. It is very valuable for
students taking any of the following courses:
All of theses syllabuses (specifications) will involve assessments
which relate to:
- Concepts
- Case Studies which illustrate these concepts
- Media Practices (industry)
- Media Debates
This is how the sections within MSB are organised.
How do the book and the website support study at this
level?
Concept areas
The chapters relating to concept areas such as audiences, genre
and representation will be applicable across a wide range of topics
covered in these courses. Other chapters are informed by key concepts
whilst focussing on material which corresponds with topics which
are examined at A level, e.g.News or TV.
Production work
MSB reflects a combination of production and theoretical work which
students are likely to encounter. This will vary from the more practical
BTEC Nationals in Media to A level Film Studies which nevertheless
involves 'practical' coursework of one sort or another.
- MSB provides insights into professional practice in institutions
and around production.
- Informs students' own production practices
- Provides contextual material useful for assessing and evaluating
your own production pieces
Individual research study
The A level courses all involve a personal study, often involving
individual research. MSB offers much material on specific genres,
texts and theoretical approaches which is likely to be very useful.
In addition it offers approaches to the process of research itself,
as well as giving you case studies which are themselves examples
of research into specific topics.
MSB provides reference to many sources which are good starting
points for individual research in the form of bibliographies and
lists of web sites. The MSB website contains many weblinks listed
under specific categories and these are periodically updated
Industry and Institution: Staying up to date
As in all areas of study, new academic work on media related topics
is regularly published. Some of this will demand attention from
A level students. In addition, the media themselves are constantly
changing and so any books relating to study of the media will inevitably
become outdated over a fairly short period. The new editions of
MSB and now the website are a response to the changes in media ownership,
the impact of new technology on industries and audiences alike,
including the changing output of media companies (eg TV programmes
and magazine titles) and how theories change to engage with these.
The case studies
Some of these may be highly relevant to your specific course. This
will be determined by the awarding body your school or college has
chosen and then upon the options your teaching staff may have made.
Where a case study is not part of your course, it may well be useful.
The case studies are designed to offer approaches or examples of
the ways in which you might address a topic yourself. For example,
the Case Study J-Horror and the 'Ring cycle' will be of relevance
to 'genre' whichever film genre(s) you are studying.
Terminology
Some chapters introduce a range of specialist terminology. One of
the features of MSB is the way in which it clearly and logically
introduces definitions of specialist vocabulary. Some of these terms
may be beyond the scope of your lessons/lectures but reference to
them in an examination or coursework will be to your credit as examples
of 'wider reading'. You may also find them an interesting 'horizon'
for your work.
Technology
MSB recognises the role of change in the media industries, which
strive for corporate profit via expanded audiences. These are often
sought via content linked to new technology, particularly new delivery
platforms. MSB has case studies (for example on Big Brother) focusing
on this. But editions have also kept up to date with developments
such as mobile phones, computer technology etc, as well as the new
alliances between companies which make profitable use of this digital
convergence. |
