This document provides an overview of an induction lesson for an A-Level Media Studies course. It introduces key concepts that will be covered over the course, including theories of binary oppositions and the hero's journey model of narrative structure. It also outlines the structure of the AS and A2 qualifications, focusing on four core concepts - media language, audiences, representations, and institutions. Students are given tasks to practice applying these concepts, such as devising a narrative that incorporates elements of conflict.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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…

6. 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

7. 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

8. Vogler – the hero’s journey
o Ordinary World The hero's normal world before the story begins
a Call to Adventure - The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure to
undertake
r Refusal of the Call - The hero refuses the challenge or journey, usually out of fear
s Meeting with the Mentor - The hero meets a mentor to gain confidence, advice or
training to face the adventure
Crossing the First Threshold - The hero crosses the gateway that separates the
ordinary world from the special world
r Tests, Allies, Enemies - The hero faces tests, meets allies, confronts enemies & learn
the rules of the Special World.
Approach - The hero has hit setbacks during tests & may need to reorganize his helpers
or rekindle morale with mentor's rally cry. Stakes heightened.
l 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.
h Reward - The hero has survived death, overcome his greatest fear and now earns the
reward he sought.
. 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.
n Resurrection - Hero faces most dangerous meeting with death – this shows the hero
can apply all the wisdom he's brought back to the Ordinary World
e 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.

9. Vogler – the hero’s journey
– key stages
o Ordinary World The hero's normal world
before the story begins
Call to Adventure - The hero is presented
with a problem, challenge or adventure to
undertake
c Tests, Allies, Enemies - The hero faces
tests, meets allies, confronts enemies & learn
the rules of the Special World.
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.

10. Vogler – the hero’s journey
 Apply these stages to your narrative using the
worksheet

11. 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