An in-depth study of television as a global industry, focusing on the transnational nature of contemporary crime dramas. Learners compare two contrasting programmes (Peaky Blinders and The Bridge) to explore production, distribution, circulation, and the role of public service broadcasting in a global marketplace. The study integrates the theoretical framework (media language, representation, industries, and audiences) with specific focus on genre, gender performativity, and the impact of historical and cultural contexts.
Component 2, Section A of the WJEC A-Level Media Studies exam focuses on television in the global age, with Option 2 specifically examining sci-fi/supernatural thrillers through the case studies of Black Mirror and The Returned. This topic requires you to analyse how these two shows represent contemporary anxieties about technology, memory, and identity, while also considering their production contexts, audience reception, and the ways they circulate globally. Black Mirror, a British anthology series, explores dystopian near-futures where technology amplifies human flaws, while The Returned (Les Revenants), a French supernatural drama, deals with the return of the dead in a small Alpine town, blending horror with emotional depth.
Understanding this topic is crucial because it allows you to apply key media concepts—such as narrative, representation, and ideology—to two distinct but thematically linked texts. You'll examine how each show uses genre conventions (e.g., sci-fi tropes in Black Mirror, supernatural elements in The Returned) to engage audiences and provoke thought about real-world issues like surveillance, grief, and social isolation. Moreover, you'll explore how these shows were produced and distributed in the global television market, considering factors like funding, broadcast platforms (Netflix for Black Mirror, Channel 4 for The Returned), and their reception in different cultural contexts.
This topic fits into the wider subject by bridging textual analysis with industry and audience studies. You'll need to demonstrate knowledge of the shows' institutional backgrounds (e.g., Black Mirror's move from Channel 4 to Netflix), their target audiences, and how they reflect the 'global age' of television where streaming services enable cross-border consumption. By comparing a British and a French production, you'll also engage with issues of cultural identity and the globalisation of media. Mastery of this section will prepare you for exam questions that ask you to compare and contrast the two shows across categories like narrative, representation, and ideology.
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