2. Media Studies at As and A2 Studies

3. Learning Objectives To have a secure understanding of the Media Studies course overview and the key skills essential for media analysis Success Criteria I know what Media Studies is and what to expect from the course I can begin to identify relevant features of texts I can start to explore features and issues in texts

4. -How is the course assessed? -How will this course work with the other AS Levels I’ve chosen? -What kind of things do we study? -People often think that Media Studies will be easy... How will this course be challenging? -Which skills will we develop? -How will I get the opportunity to make my own choices throughout the course? -Which issues will we explore?

5. GENRE Generic conventions – repetition, typicality, themes and key signifiers Mise-en-Scene Settings and Locations Characteristic plots In particular you should consider how conventions are used AND how they are challenged, adapted and combined. NARRATIVE Construction Structure Key codes such as action and enigma The role of characters within the narrative TECHNICAL CODES and how meanings are created through them. You must be able to do more than name the code; you need to be able to discuss how and why it has been used. Camera shots/angles Photographic techniques Framing Editing Lighting Special effects AUDIO CODES, in particular the use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound through: Dialogue Music Sound effects VISUAL and WRITTEN codes: Design / layout e.g. graphics, use of colour etc. Typography Language Persuasive techniques Register and mode of address MS1 GUIDE TO ANALYSIS...

6. Roland Barthes describes a text as “a galaxy of signifiers, not a structure of signifieds; it has no beginning; it is reversible; we gain access to it by several entrances, none of which can be authoritatively declared to be the main one; the codes it mobilizes extend as far as the eye can read, they are indeterminable......" (1974 translation)

7. What he is basically saying is that a text is like a tangled ball of threads which needs unravelling so we can separate out the colours. Once we start to unravel a text, we encounter an absolute plurality of potential meanings.

8. We are going to watch a moving image text... This requires note-taking... This is a key skill for Media studies. The examiners explained that a lot of students’ exam papers show that they do not take adequate notes when watching a moving image text. Writing EVERYTHING down is not possible.

9. Study the ‘SKYFALL’ Heineken advert for the 2012 advertising campaign. Q1. Analyse the advert commenting on: -visual codes -technical and audio codes -narrative construction

10. You are going to watch the ‘2012 Heineken Skyfall ’ advert three times. The first time, just watch and listen. The second time, you can make notes. After 3 minutes, you will then watch it for a third and final time.

11. DO YOU HAVE DETAILED AND FULL NOTES? Identify a WWW and an EBI – which elements of MS1 do you feel most confident making notes on/understand best? Which area/s do you need to strengthen understanding? “Detailed and full responses...” (WJEC Exam Board).

12. Summer project... For September you must complete an overview MS1 analysis of five media texts that interest you (either collect or print a sheet). The texts can be print based or moving image... Remember to write down what the texts were – and bring copies with you if you can!