AS Media Studies induction lesson Course overview Film openings – expectations? Theory 1 – binary oppositions and

application Theory 2 – the hero’s journey Analysing film openings Blogs and setting one up Summer project

What is Media Studies?

What are ‘the media’? The term ‘the media’ is an umbrella

term for the industries of TV, film, newspapers, magazines, internet, radio, videogames

The word ‘media’ is the plural form of medium

For example, TV is a medium of communication where a small group of people can produce a TV programme that is watched by millions – Big Brother, Coronation Street, X-Factor

What is Media Studies?

The technology of being broadcast pictures and sound through radio waves or via satellite or cable, is the medium – the ‘piggy in the middle’ between sender (producer / institution) and receiver (audience)

The media forms listed above are mass media – because they are intended to communicate with great numbers of people. It is these mass media which are the focus of the academic subject of media studies at A-Level and beyond

What is Media Studies?

Media Studies at A-Level centres around the study of 4 key concepts

Everything we do in this subject relates to these 4 key concepts

The 4 key concepts Media language Media audiences Media representations Media institutions

What is Media Studies?

AS Media Studies 2 units – 1 coursework (50%), 1 exam

(50%) G321 Foundation Portfolio – the

production of the opening sequence to a film, plus evaluation in the form of a blog

G322 Key Media Concepts – 2 sections of work – TV Drama and representation, Audiences & Institutions

A2 Media Studies – 2 more units – coursework and exam, but harder still…

OCR A-level Media Studies This is a ‘joined up’ course What you do at AS has knock on

effects for A2 The road to the final exam starts

today

Levi-Strauss - Binary oppositions Man walks up street to buy a newspaper Man walks up street, goes to shop, buys paper –

no conflict, no story Man walks up street, crosses paths with another

man who punches him, they fight, Man 1 wins, buys paper – conflict and story – but short

A well sustained story has a range of different types of conflict – to constantly engage and entertain its audience

Task – Story scenario – Girl gets into a car… Devise a story which features between 3-5

elements of conflict and also make clear what the end of the story is

Vogler – the hero’s journey1. Ordinary World The hero's normal world before the story begins2. Call to Adventure - The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure to undertake3. Refusal of the Call - The hero refuses the challenge or journey, usually out of fear4. Meeting with the Mentor - The hero meets a mentor to gain confidence, advice or training to face the adventure5. Crossing the First Threshold - The hero crosses the gateway that separates the ordinary world from the special world6. Tests, Allies, Enemies - The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies & learn the rules of the Special World.7. Approach - The hero has hit setbacks during tests & may need to reorganize his helpers or rekindle morale with mentor's rally cry. Stakes heightened.8. Ordeal - The biggest life or death crisis – the hero faces his greatest fear & only through “death” can the hero be “reborn” experiencing even greater powers to see the journey to the end.9. Reward - The hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear and now earns the reward he sought.10. The Road Back - The hero must recommit to completing the journey & travel the road back to the Ordinary World. The dramatic question is asked again.11. Resurrection - Hero faces most dangerous meeting with death – this shows the hero can apply all the wisdom he's brought back to the Ordinary World12. Return with Elixir - The hero returns from the journey with the “elixir”, so everyone in the world can use to heal physical or emotional wounds.

Vogler – the hero’s journey – key stages1. Ordinary World The hero's normal

world before the story begins2. Call to Adventure - The hero is

presented with a problem, challenge or adventure to undertake

6. Tests, Allies, Enemies - The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies & learn the rules of the Special World.

12. Return with Elixir - The hero returns from the journey with the “elixir”, so everyone in the world can use to heal physical or emotional wounds.

Vogler – the hero’s journey Apply these stages to your narrative

using the worksheet

Expectations, codes and conventions Key terms – codes, conventions Code – something that stands for

something else, e.g. M8 = Mate TV / Film – black clothes / facial hair –

code for villain Convention – codes repeated so often

that they become part of our expectations for that genre

E.g. – in teen movies, teens are cool; adults are stupid