Close Study Products (CSPs) are a set of media products selected by AQA that students must study in-depth to apply the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) and contexts of the media. These products serve as the primary vehicle for delivering the specification content, ensuring students engage with diverse, culturally significant, and challenging media forms.
Close study products (CSPs) are a core component of the AQA A-Level Media Studies specification, requiring students to analyse a carefully selected set of media texts in depth. These products span nine media forms: advertising and marketing, film marketing, magazines, newspapers, online, social and participatory media, radio, television, and video games. Each CSP is chosen to represent contemporary media landscapes, historical contexts, and diverse cultural perspectives, enabling students to apply theoretical frameworks such as representation, audience, industry, and media language. Mastery of CSPs is essential for success in both the examined papers and the non-exam assessment (NEA), as they provide concrete examples for essays and comparative analysis.
The study of CSPs goes beyond simple description; students must critically engage with how these products construct meaning, target audiences, and reflect or challenge societal values. For instance, analysing the representation of gender in the 'Kiss of the Vampire' film poster (1963) alongside the 'WaterAid' charity advert (2019) reveals shifts in media conventions and ideological messages. Similarly, comparing the newspaper front pages of The Daily Mail and The Guardian on the same day illuminates how political orientation shapes news values and audience address. By examining CSPs, students develop skills in semiotic analysis, contextualisation, and evaluation of media industries—skills that are directly transferable to the exam's unseen texts and the NEA's production work.
The CSP list is updated periodically by AQA to ensure relevance, so students must stay informed about the current set. Typically, there are 27 CSPs studied over the two-year course, with each product linked to specific theoretical areas. For example, the television CSP 'Stranger Things' (Netflix) is used to explore narrative theory (Todorov, Propp), audience positioning (Hall), and the impact of streaming platforms on the television industry. Understanding CSPs also prepares students for the 'Media in the Online Age' section of Paper 2, where they must apply their knowledge of online CSPs like 'Zoella' or 'The Guardian's website' to broader debates about participatory culture and digital democracy. Ultimately, CSPs are not just texts to memorise but tools for developing a sophisticated, critical understanding of the media's role in society.
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