Media Studies GCSE Alexandra Park School has recently made a huge, ongoing investment in Media Technology. We now have access to video production and editing equipment which makes Media Studies an exciting and student focused subject. The mass media play an increasingly important role in contemporary society, providing us with information and entertainment. In addition, the media play an important part in shaping our attitudes and social values. Media provide entertainment, (through TV programmes, radio and films), and information, (through television, newspapers, and the internet). Media can also attempt to influence and persuade us β to buy a particular product, to vote for a political party, or to feel a certain way about a current issue. It is because of this ability to influence us that media texts are hugely powerful. Decoding them β working out how they exert that power β can be a lot of fun. But itβs also useful to know how media texts work, so that we can decide for ourselves how much power we are going to let them have over us. GCSE Media Studies examines four key concepts: Media Language: forms and conventions. Students will explore and compare the ways in which various media communicate their content and the way they use conventions (what rules and formats were followed in making them?) Audience: students will examine the nature of the relationships between various media and the groups of people that interact with them (who were they made for?) Institutions: students learn about the ownership and control of different media and the influence this has on the content and the audience (who made them?) Representations: students will examine issues such as bias, ethnic and gender representation. Students will study each of the above concepts in at least three media from below, including the moving image: Television, Film, Radio, Popular Music, Newspapers, Magazines, Comics.