A Level Specification: Module 6

Comparative Critical Analysis

Students develop their understanding of the connections between the different elements of Media Study and the contexts of production.

They will be required to analyse, explain and account for the similarities and differences between media texts. To do this satisfactorily students will learn to:

• demonstrate their critical reading abilities using the Key
  Concepts
• draw upon their knowledge of major ideas theories, debates
  and information
• use their knowledge of a range of relevant contextual factors.

This is demonstrated through the comparative analysis of two different, unseen media texts.

Assessed in a 90-minute written examination
15% of A Level

The following materials are adapted from the AQA Exam board A Level Specification.

Course Content

Students will study a selection of texts, viewed in pairs, as they learn to assess the similarities and differences between the two.

Students will compare texts in terms of their similarities and differences, explaining and accounting for these in terms of any relevant Key Concepts (media language, representations, genre, institution, ideology, audience) and wider contexts (historical, social, political and economic).

Examples of the kind of comparative readings which we might take on include:

• the same topic represented in different media forms
• the same genre from different historical periods
• the same theme treated by different media
• similar texts produced by different institutions
• the same medium or genre with different target audiences
• cross-cultural comparisons
• mainstream and alternative variants (e.g. of topics, representations, audiences, ideologies etc.).

AO1: Knowledge and application of Key Concepts (5%)
Knowledge and application of the Key Concepts (and their evaluative purposes) will be tested synoptically (holistically). You must apply the Key Concepts in an unseen exercise (Med 1) to more than one text (Med 2), and their relevant contexts (Med 4), thereby demonstrating your independent critical thinking (Med 5).

AO2: Knowledge and application of wider contexts (2½%)

AO3i: Knowledge, application and evaluation of relevant major ideas, theories, debates and information (2½%)
This objective is tested in relation to the comparative elucidation (explanation) of both media texts and their wider contexts.

A03ii: Analyse texts critically & comparatively to determine & account for similarities / differences (5%)

MediaEdu The new Media Know-All - a terrific site for revision, full of resources produced by teachers from across the country. MediaKnow-All An excellent web-guide to Media Studies produced by another Media Studies teacher. Media History timeline Every major event in the development of the media, 3500BC to present day!

IN THIS AUTUMN'S MEDIA MAGAZINE...

Broadcast Fiction Fantasy and the Police: Ashes to Ashes

Media in context When subversion becomes the mainstream

Audience Torchwood: The Doctor Who spin-off and its fans Theories of fandom, and the power of audience Cults and the film industry

Media skills Analysing media texts

And much more!

Available now in the Sandringham Library, Subscribe through school for £10 (pay to Sandringham School), or... Subscribe to your home address for £12.95