MM
the truth about
media studies
Media Studies: watch a few films, chat about a
few ads, have a laugh, give up on the thought
of uni … Pete Fraser debunks a few popular
misconceptions about Media Studies.
If you have opted to do Media A Level, you might find some going on to a highly specialised course at a particular
people who refuse to take it seriously and even try to put you university, like Medicine at Oxford, then of course Media
off. Here are some of the most common myths you may hear might not be the right A Level to take, but on the whole it
and some facts to counter them. is very rare that we hear of students being rejected from
university because they are taking Media.
MYTH 1: Media Studies is easier than
other subjects. MYTH 3: You just put your feet up in
Media Studies and watch films.
FACT: Grade A at Media Studies A
Level is only awarded to about 12% of FACT: In many Media
candidates. courses you may not even
On the league table of A Levels that makes it the third hardest see a whole film!
in which to get a grade A. In the end, it is impossible to prove You are more likely to have to
that any subject is harder or easier than any other. All you analyse short extracts as there
can say is that they are all different. To someone who is simply won’t be time for entire
good at Maths, Maths may be easy; to some people, screenings. Even if you do get
Maths is the hardest subject of all. Every subject has its to watch some entire films,
own set of skills and its own body of knowledge; your you shouldn’t have your feet
task is to master it all! up, but should be making
notes.
MYTH 2: A certificate in Media
A Level is not worth the paper MYTH 4: Anyone
it’s written on; universities won’t off the street can
recognise it. make a video – the
practical work is easy.
FACT: Universities accept Media
Studies in the same way that they FACT: Anyone can use a video
accept English or History or any other camera to make something
Arts or Humanities A Level. unwatchable.
There are Media degrees at most universities, so they know Only someone who has been taught how to do it properly,
that the subject exists in schools and colleges. If you intend who then plans it carefully, can make a video which will
english and media centre | september 2004 | MediaMagazine 47