The key concepts of media studies

There are three key concepts of media studies and the first one to be discussed in this blog is media language.


Media language tests your ability to analyse four equally important areas.

• Cinematography -> this is how each shot is taken. What this means is the different types of shots that can be taken, for example you have mid-shots, close ups and birds eye view to name a few. cinematography is important because it can play a big part in showing important things.  for example a close up shot to show a face of emotion whereas a different shot may be used for a car chase scene.
• Editing -> editing is how you move from clip to clip, and this is called a transition. it is important to get a good transition between clips so that the clip being filmed runs smoothly from start to finish without a hiccup where one clip overlaps another.
• sound -> sound is a very important aspect of any film or tv show. If a horror film was to go without sound there would be no scary music or sound effects that hightens the fear. Sound goes hand in hand with filming and no modern film or tv show can go without it.
• Mise en scene -> this is french  for everything in the scene. what this means is to look at everything in the scene of a particular shot including the setting, location, lighting, costume, make-up, props, blocking (movement of the actors) and body language.

The second key concept of media is representation.This is where your ability to analyse how the media language builds a representation of one of the follwing:

• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Sexuality
• Regional Identity
• Ability/Disability and
• Class/Social Status 

The third key concept is Audiance and Institution. In this area there will be a case study of two seperate films.


you will be tested on your knowledge of relationships between the people who produce, distribute and exhibite the films (institutions) and the people who go to see it.