Media Studies

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This subtopic explores the application of semiotic analysis to media texts, enabling learners to deconstruct the layers of meaning embedded in visual, audio, and audiovisual media. It focuses on the principles of signifier and signified, denotation and connotation, and the construction of myths and ideologies as theorised by Roland Barthes. Practical application involves critically analysing advertising, news imagery, and film sequences to reveal hidden codes and cultural narratives.

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Content of Media messages (H409/01)

Component 01 (H409/01) Media messages focuses on two sections: Section A, which involves two linked in-depth studies of contemporary UK news (newspapers and their online/social counterparts), and Section B, which explores media language and representation through advertising and marketing, magazines, and music videos.

News

This topic involves an in-depth study of two newspaper front covers from the Daily Mail and two from The Guardian. Learners must apply the theoretical framework of media language and media representation to these products, considering how they construct meaning, portray events, issues, individuals, and social groups, and how they reflect social, cultural, and political contexts.

Newspapers (Media Industries and Media Audiences)

This topic involves an in-depth study of two newspaper front covers from the Daily Mail and two from The Guardian. Learners must apply the theoretical framework of media language and media representation to these products, considering how they construct meaning, portray events, issues, individuals, and social groups, and how they reflect social, cultural, and political contexts.

Online, Social and Participatory Media (Media Industries and Media Audiences)

This topic involves an in-depth study of two newspaper front covers from the Daily Mail and two from The Guardian. Learners must apply the theoretical framework of media language and media representation to these products, considering how they construct meaning, portray events, issues, individuals, and social groups, and how they reflect social, cultural, and political contexts.

Online – Website Articles (Media Language and Media Representation)

This topic involves an in-depth study of two newspaper front covers from the Daily Mail and two from The Guardian. Learners must apply the theoretical framework of media language and media representation to these products, considering how they construct meaning, portray events, issues, individuals, and social groups, and how they reflect social, cultural, and political contexts.

Newspapers – Front Covers (Media Language and Media Representation)

This topic involves an in-depth study of two newspaper front covers from the Daily Mail and two from The Guardian. Learners must apply the theoretical framework of media language and media representation to these products, considering how they construct meaning, portray events, issues, individuals, and social groups, and how they reflect social, cultural, and political contexts.

Social and Participatory Media – Associated Feeds (Media Language and Media Representation)

This topic involves an in-depth study of two newspaper front covers from the Daily Mail and two from The Guardian. Learners must apply the theoretical framework of media language and media representation to these products, considering how they construct meaning, portray events, issues, individuals, and social groups, and how they reflect social, cultural, and political contexts.

Music Videos (Media Language, Media Representations, Social and Cultural Contexts)

Section B of Component 01 focuses on Media Language and Representation. Learners study three media forms: advertising and marketing, magazines, and music videos. The study requires an analysis of how media language is used to construct meaning and how various events, issues, individuals, and social groups are represented, considering relevant social, cultural, and political contexts.

Magazines – The Big Issue (Media Language, Media Representations, Social, Cultural and Political Contexts)

Section B of Component 01 focuses on Media Language and Representation. Learners study three media forms: advertising and marketing, magazines, and music videos. The study requires an analysis of how media language is used to construct meaning and how various events, issues, individuals, and social groups are represented, considering relevant social, cultural, and political contexts.

Media Language and Representation

Section B of Component 01 focuses on Media Language and Representation. Learners study three media forms: advertising and marketing, magazines, and music videos. The study requires an analysis of how media language is used to construct meaning and how various events, issues, individuals, and social groups are represented, considering relevant social, cultural, and political contexts.

Advertising and Marketing (Media Language, Media Representations, Social and Cultural Contexts)

Section B of Component 01 focuses on Media Language and Representation. Learners study three media forms: advertising and marketing, magazines, and music videos. The study requires an analysis of how media language is used to construct meaning and how various events, issues, individuals, and social groups are represented, considering relevant social, cultural, and political contexts.

Content of Evolving media (H409/02)

Component 02 (Evolving media) focuses on the study of media industries and audiences through radio, video games, and film, alongside an in-depth study of global long-form television drama. It requires the application of the theoretical framework and relevant contexts to analyse how media products are constructed, distributed, and consumed in a global, contemporary landscape.

Film (Media Industries, Economic and Historical Contexts)

This topic focuses on the media industries and audiences theoretical framework, specifically applied to the media forms of radio, video games, and film. Learners explore how media industries produce, distribute, and circulate products, and how audiences are targeted, reached, and addressed, within their specific economic, political, cultural, and historical contexts.

Video Games (Media Industries, Media Audiences, Economic and Social Contexts)

This topic focuses on the media industries and audiences theoretical framework, specifically applied to the media forms of radio, video games, and film. Learners explore how media industries produce, distribute, and circulate products, and how audiences are targeted, reached, and addressed, within their specific economic, political, cultural, and historical contexts.

Media Industries and Audiences

This topic focuses on the media industries and audiences theoretical framework, specifically applied to the media forms of radio, video games, and film. Learners explore how media industries produce, distribute, and circulate products, and how audiences are targeted, reached, and addressed, within their specific economic, political, cultural, and historical contexts.

Radio (Media Industries, Media Audiences, Economic, Political and Cultural Contexts)

This topic focuses on the media industries and audiences theoretical framework, specifically applied to the media forms of radio, video games, and film. Learners explore how media industries produce, distribute, and circulate products, and how audiences are targeted, reached, and addressed, within their specific economic, political, cultural, and historical contexts.

Long Form Television Drama

Section B of Component 02 focuses on an in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form. Learners must conduct a comparative study of two contemporary long form television dramas: one from a set US English language list and one from a set European non-English language list. The study requires the application of all four areas of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) and all relevant contexts.

Television – European (non-English language) Long Form Television Drama (All four areas of the theoretical framework, all relevant contexts)

Section B of Component 02 focuses on an in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form. Learners must conduct a comparative study of two contemporary long form television dramas: one from a set US English language list and one from a set European non-English language list. The study requires the application of all four areas of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) and all relevant contexts.

Television – US Long Form Television Drama (All four areas of the theoretical framework, all relevant contexts)

Section B of Component 02 focuses on an in-depth study of television as an evolving, global media form. Learners must conduct a comparative study of two contemporary long form television dramas: one from a set US English language list and one from a set European non-English language list. The study requires the application of all four areas of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) and all relevant contexts.

Media Audiences – Theories of media audiences: Cultivation theory, including Gerbner

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Subject content for components H409/01 and H409/02

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Contexts of Media

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Contexts of Media – Social, cultural, political, economic and historical contexts

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language – How the media through their forms, codes, conventions and techniques communicate meanings

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language – Theories of media language: Semiotics, including Barthes

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language – Theories of media language: Narratology, including Todorov

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language – Theories of media language: Genre theory, including Neale

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language – Theories of media language: Structuralism, including Lévi-Strauss

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Language – Theories of media language: Postmodernism, including Baudrillard

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations – How the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations – Theories of media representation: Theories of representation, including Hall

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations – Theories of media representation: Theories of identity, including Gauntlett

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations – Theories of media representation: Feminist theories, including Bell Hooks and Van Zoonen

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations – Theories of media representation: Theories of gender performativity, including Butler

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Representations – Theories of media representation: Theories around ethnicity and postcolonial theory, including Gilroy

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Industries

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Industries – How the media industries' processes of production, distribution and circulation affect media forms and platforms

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Industries – Theories of media industries: Power and media industries, including Curran and Seaton

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Industries – Theories of media industries: Theories of regulation, including those of Livingstone and Lunt

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Industries – Theories of media industries: Theories of cultural industries, including those of Hesmondhalgh

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Audiences

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Audiences – How media forms target, reach and address audiences, how audiences interpret and respond to them and how members of audiences become producers themselves

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Audiences – Theories of media audiences: Media effects, including Bandura

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Audiences – Theories of media audiences: Reception theory, including Hall

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Audiences – Theories of media audiences: Theories of fandom, including Jenkins

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Media Audiences – Theories of media audiences: Theories of 'end of audience', including Shirky

The 'Contexts of Media' topic requires learners to study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical contexts that influence media products. It focuses on how these contexts shape the production, distribution, circulation, and consumption of media, and how media products themselves act as agents in reflecting or facilitating social, cultural, and political developments.

Making media – Cross-media production: Moving image (television/music video) as part of a cross-media brief

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Content of non-exam assessment: Making media (H409/03/04)

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Making media – Research (Preparatory Activities)

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Making media – Cross-media production: Magazines as part of a cross-media brief

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Making media – Cross-media production: Online media as part of a cross-media brief

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Making media – Statement of Intent

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Making media – Planning (Preparatory Activities)

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Making media – Cross-media production: Radio as part of a cross-media brief

Component 03/04 (Making media) is a non-exam assessment (NEA) component where learners work independently to create a cross-media product in response to a brief set by OCR. It allows learners to apply their knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) to construct media products for an intended audience.

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Representations: Theories of Representation (Hall)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Representations: Theories of Identity (Gauntlett)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Representations: Feminist Theory (Van Zoonen)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Representations: Feminist Theory (Bell Hooks)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Representations: Theories of Gender Performativity (Butler)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Representations: Theories Around Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Theory (Gilroy)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Industries: Power and Media Industries (Curran and Seaton)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Industries: Regulation (Livingstone and Lunt)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Industries: Cultural Industries (Hesmondhalgh)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Audiences: Media Effects (Bandura)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Audiences: Cultivation Theory (Gerbner)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Audiences: Reception Theory (Hall)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Audiences: Fandom (Jenkins)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Audiences: 'End of Audience' Theories (Shirky)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments to be studied

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Language: Semiology (Barthes)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Language: Narratology (Todorov)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Language: Genre Theory (Neale)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Language: Structuralism (Lévi-Strauss)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).

Academic ideas and arguments – Media Language: Postmodernism (Baudrillard)

Semiology as defined by Roland Barthes is the study of signs, which consist of a signifier and a signified. It involves analyzing denotation (literal meaning), connotation (associations), and myths (ideological meanings that make ideologies appear natural).