This document discusses the debate around Media Studies as an academic subject in schools and universities. It presents perspectives from politicians, education ministers, and journalists that are critical of Media Studies, seeing it as a "soft option" or "worthless qualification" that does not provide real skills for employment. It also shares views from education philosophers that argue for focusing on high-quality literary and cultural works instead of popular culture. The document aims to examine both sides of the debate around whether Media Studies is a serious academic subject or the "end of civilization."

1. Chewing gum for the brain?
Why do people talk such rubbish
about Media Studies?

2. Angry parents accuse
school of ‘dumbing
down’ English by
showing The Simpsons
in class.
Daily Mail

3. Tories to tackle Media Studies menace
The Independent
The increase has been
almost entirely in state
schools. At the same time
as independent schools are
shunning subjects like Media
Studies their students are
pursuing the hard academic
subjects universities and
employers value.
Michael Gove, Education Minister

4. ‘WORTHLESS’ QUALIFICATIONS GIVE FALSE
HOPE TO STATE PUPILS SAYS HARROW HEAD
THE GUARDIAN

5. A hamburger advertisement!
I am afraid that the interests of our
children are not served by some of our
examination boards. One recently
defended the use of a hamburger
advertisement in a public exam by claiming
that it provided just as much food for
thought for our children as our great
literary heritage.
They’d give us Chaucer with chips, Milton
with mayonnaise! I want William
Shakespeare in our classrooms, not
Ronald Macdonald!
John Patten, Schools Minister

6. A trendy travesty
A Mickey Mouse
subject
Dons despair as
students spurn science
in favour of “media
studies”
It won’t get you a job!
Students ‘misled’ over
jobs in the media
Media graduates finish
up as clerks and cooks

7. Only the best
The whole scope [of ‘Culture and
Anarchy’] is to recommend culture
as the great help out of our present
difficulties; culture being a pursuit of
our total perfection by means of
getting to know, on all the matters
which most concern us, the best
which has been thought and said in
the world.
Matthew Arnold, 1869

8. Literature against pop culture
Frank and Queenie Leavis

9. Saving innocent kids
from violence,
tobacco, alcohol, sex
and obesity.
Media literacy – the Great Crusade

10. So what’s the problem?
Is Media Studies a serious academic subject?
Is Media Studies just a soft option?
Will Media Studies get you a job in the media?
Or is Media Studies really the end of civilization
as we know it?