A Level Media Studies – approaching the Media language and representation topic

John Hibbert, Subject Advisor for Media and Film Studies

This blog was originally published in January 2019 and has been updated to reflect changes to the set products and resources.

In this post I offer some guidance on how to approach the Media language and representation topic in A Level Media Studies, including assessment criteria and set products.

What set products need to be studied?

Students need to study the set products for each of the three media forms covered in the Media language and representation topic. For music videos, students should study one set video from list A and one from list B. There are three set adverts to be studied for advertising which are the Dove ‘Too Many Cooks’ advert, the River Island ‘Smooth Moves Only’ advert, and the Shelter advert. The set adverts can be accessed via this document on Teach Cambridge. This blog from Dave Soltysik has some suggested approaches to teaching the set adverts. For magazines, students should study two front covers of The Big Issue from the September onwards of the first year of their course.

How will this topic be assessed?

There will be two questions on this topic in the Media Messages exam, one 10 mark question and one 15 mark question. One of the questions will test knowledge and understanding (AO1). This style of question is likely to use the command word explain, and will be in relation to media language or representation in one of the three media forms. Students will need to be able to refer to the set products in their response to knowledge and understanding questions. Question 5 of the sample assessment materials demonstrates this style of question in relation to music videos, and question 5 of the practice paper shows this style of question for advertising.

The other question in this section will be an analysis (AO2) question, using the command word analyse. Analysis questions on advertising and magazines will use unseen sources. Students may be asked to make judgements and reach conclusions about the use of media language or representation in the product(s) analysed.

Any of the three media forms can be assessed through either of the two styles of question in this section.

How will unseen sources be used?

Where the analysis question in this section is on magazines or advertising, unseen sources will always be used. For magazines this will be a Big Issue front cover, which can be taken from outside the period of study. Analysis questions on advertising will either use an unseen advert for a similar product to the set adverts (clothing, body care, charity) or ask for comparison of a set advert to an unseen advert for a similar product. 

Unseen sources will never be used in relation to music videos. Question 6 in both the sample assessment materials and the practice paper demonstrate this style of question in relation to The Big Issue.

Which style of Big Issue covers will be used as unseen sources?

We’ve had a number of queries from centres asking about how the redesign of The Big Issue in November 2021 may affect assessment of this product. 

As assessment of magazines can involve the use of unseen front covers of The Big Issue, we want to provide clarity on which style of covers will be used in exam papers in the future. 

Where magazines are assessed in the AS Level Media Today H009/01 or the A Level Media Messages H409/01 exam, any unseen Big Issue covers would be taken from after the redesign of the Big Issue in November 2021.

What do students need to know about media contexts?

All three media forms should be studied in relation to social and cultural contexts. Students should have an understanding of how the different media forms can reflect their social and cultural context. A useful way of approaching this is to consider how social and cultural contexts such as changing gender roles, multiculturalism, celebrity culture, nostalgia/retro culture and consumerism are reflected in the set products.

The Big Issue also needs to be studied in relation to political contexts. The nature of The Big Issue means that is a politically engaged publication which addresses a number of political contexts including poverty and social inequality.

What do students need to know to be exam ready?

Students need to be prepared to discuss each of the set products for each of the three media forms in relation to media language, representation and the relevant media contexts. For advertising and magazines students should also be able to analyse these areas in relation to unseen magazine covers and adverts, and for advertising be able to compare the set adverts to unseen adverts for similar products.

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About the author

John Hibbert has worked at OCR since April 2018 and is Subject Advisor for Media and Film Studies. Prior to joining OCR John taught a range of Media and Film Studies qualifications in secondary schools, and was a head of department for the last eight years. Predictably, in his spare time he is a keen filmgoer, and in addition enjoys reading and miserable indie music.