FILM & MEDIA STUDIES
For the discerning or lazy student
Office No: 0115 912 5548
Component 1
Media Products, Industries and Audiences
Media forms
Newspapers (sections A and B)
Advertising and Marketing (sections A and B)
Music video (section A)
Radio (section B)
Video Games (section B)
Film: cross-media study including film marketing (section B)
Areas to be studied
In-depth study covering all areas of the theoretical framework:
Media language (section A)
Representation (section A)
Media industries (section B)
Audiences (section B)
Media contexts (sections A and B)
Media language (section A)
Representation (section A)
Audiences (section B)
Media contexts (sections A and B)
Media language
Representation
Media contexts
Media industries
Audiences
Media contexts
Media industries
Audiences
Media contexts
Media industries
Media contexts
*This music video has a parental advisory warning. It is at the discretion of the teacher whether this is appropriate for their learners and the alternative option may be chosen if not.
It is recommended that students study additional, contrasting products from each of the above forms to enable them to develop their analytical skills and explore a range of representations to support analysis of the representation issues highlighted in the set products.
Section A
For Section A, learners will develop their knowledge and understanding of the following aspects of the theoretical framework.
Written examination – 2 hours 15 minutes
35% of qualification
90 marks
Overview
In this component, you will develop knowledge and understanding of key aspects of the theoretical framework - media language and representation – as an essential basis for analysing media products from a variety of forms. In addition, you will study products from specific media industries and for specific audiences to develop your knowledge and understanding of those areas of the theoretical framework. Students will also explore how media products relate to their social, cultural, historical, political and economic contexts. In this component, you will develop their ability to use relevant subject-specific terminology and theories.
The following media forms will be studied.
Section A – Analysing Media Language and Representation
In this section, students will analyse media language, considering how elements of media language incorporate viewpoints and ideologies, the significance of genre and how audiences may respond to media language. You will consider the factors that influence representations and will explore representations of events, issues, individuals and social groups in the media, using relevant theoretical perspectives or theories in their analysis of media products. In addition, you will consider how representations relate
to relevant contexts of media.
You will develop the ability to:
analyse critically and compare how media products, including products outside the commercial mainstream, construct and communicate meanings through the interaction of media language and audience response
use a range of complex theories of media studies and use specialist subjectspecific terminology appropriately in a developed way
debate key questions relating to the social, cultural, political and economic role of the media through discursive writing
construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured in an extended response.
You must study the following media forms and products set by WJEC. The printbased set products for Section A will be provided via the WJEC Eduqas secure website.
Details of how to access audio-visual products are provided below. Centres should contact WJEC if they have any difficulties accessing the set products.
Section B – Understanding Media Industries and Audiences
In this section, learners will develop knowledge and understanding of key aspects of media industries, including the significance of ownership and funding, the role of regulation in global production and distribution, the impact of digitally convergent platforms and the effect of individual producers on media industries.
In addition, learners will study media audiences, considering aspects such as the targeting of mass and specialised audiences, the categorisation and construction of audiences, as well as how audiences' use of and responses to the media reflect identity and social, cultural and historical circumstances.
Learners must study the following media forms and products set by WJEC.
* Advertising is only studied in relation to audiences.
** Film is only studied in relation to media industries.
Contemporary and emerging media related to the set product should also be considered to enhance understanding.
Centres are responsible for accessing the set products for section B of this component, with the exception of the Tide advertisement (also studied for section A), which is provided on the WJEC Eduqas secure website.
The focus of section B is on the set products as examples of the related media industries and audiences. For this section, learners should not engage in analysis of the textual features of the set products, but should study them as examples of the relevant industry and audience issues that they illustrate (see bullet points on media industries and audiences below).
Advertising: Tide print advertisement and WaterAid audio-visual advertisement
In section A, students study media language and representation in the two set advertisements. Here, learners will develop knowledge and understanding of the same two advertisements in terms of the relevant audience issues they illustrate. The two advertisements reflect different historical contexts, purposes and target audiences.
Film (cross-media study, including film marketing): Straight Outta Compton and I, Daniel Blake
Film must be studied in relation to media industries only. We will study the set films and their marketing across various media, exploring the convergence of media platforms and technologies and other relevant industry issues. The two films reflect contrasting aspects of the film industry: mainstream (Straight Outta Compton) and independent (I, Daniel Blake) production. In order to develop an awareness of the films as contemporary examples of the film industry and of its marketing strategies, learners should consider at least one trailer and at least one poster for each film, as well as online marketing where relevant. Selected extracts from the films may also be studied in relation to the industry issues exemplified, including the opening credits and at least one other age appropriate extract. The video release of Straight Outta Compton is rated 18 and it is the responsibility of the teacher to monitor the content of the film and ensure that any extracts studied are age appropriate for their learners.
Newspapers: The Daily Mirror and The Times
Learners should have knowledge and understanding of the two newspapers as evolving media products in terms of the relevant newspaper industry and audience issues they illustrate. In order to develop this awareness, learners should consider one complete print edition of each newspaper chosen by the centre and selected key pages from each newspaper's website, including the homepage and at least one other page. It is the teacher's responsibility to monitor the content of these products and ensure it is age appropriate for their learners.
Radio: Late Night Woman's Hour
Learners should have knowledge and understanding of Late Night Woman's Hour as an evolving media product in terms of the relevant radio industry and audience issues it illustrates. To inform their understanding of Late Night Woman's Hour as an example of the contemporary radio industry and contemporary radio audiences, learners should have an awareness of the historical significance of the programme in terms of its evolution from Woman's Hour and how it has been created in response to industry and audience demands. In order to develop this awareness, learners should consider at least the complete set podcast of Late Night Woman's Hour. The set podcast is age appropriate. Some of the other podcasts contain material that may be inappropriate for learners. It is the teacher's responsibility to ensure that any additional podcasts studied are age appropriate for their learners.
Video games: Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
Learners should have knowledge and understanding of Assassin's Creed III: Liberation as a contemporary action adventure game in terms of the relevant video games industry and audience issues it illustrates. In order to develop this awareness, learners should consider at least one extract from the game chosen by the centre, which may be accessed online. As the video game is PEGI rated 18, it is the teacher's responsibility to ensure that any extracts studied are age appropriate for their learners.
For Section B, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of the following aspects of the theoretical framework.
Theoretical Framework
Assessment
This component assesses media language, representation, media industries, audiences and media contexts.
Learners will be assessed on their use of relevant theories or theoretical approaches and relevant subject-specific terminology in this examination.
Section A: Analysing Media Language and Representation (45 marks)
This section will assess learners' ability to analyse media language and representation in relation to two of the media forms studied for this section: advertising, marketing, music video or newspapers.
There will be two questions:
One question will assess media language and will require analysis of an unseen audio-visual or print resource from any of the media forms studied for this section.
One question will assess representation. The question will require comparison of one set product and an unseen audio-visual or print resource from any of the forms studied for this section through an extended response. Comparison of set products from the same media form or from different forms may be required. Reference to relevant media contexts will be required. Extended response questions require learners to construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured.
Section B: Understanding Media Industries and Audiences (45 marks)
This section will assess knowledge and understanding of media industries, audiences and media contexts in relation to any of the forms studied for this section: advertising, marketing, film, newspapers, radio and video games.
There will be two questions:
Question 3 will be a stepped question assessing knowledge and understanding of media industries in relation to one form studied.
Question 4 will be a stepped question assessing knowledge and understanding of audiences in relation to a different media form from that assessed in question one.