Media Studies A-Level
Cognitive surplus
What Cognitive surplus means in Media Studies A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Cognitive surplus
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Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Cognitive surplus in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: AQA
The collective free time, talent and willingness to contribute that societies can now direct into making and sharing media, rather than only watching.
Topics that use Cognitive surplus
Related terms
- 'End of audience'
- Decline of professional gatekeeping
- Lowered barriers to media production
- Mass amateurisation
- Amateur producers at scale
- Audience as producer
Using Cognitive surplus in the exam
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