Section A.

Media
Texts
OVERVIEW
Key concepts, terminology, exam requirements

AS Media Studies
Section A. Media Texts
STUDY STEPS

1. Semiotics - learn how signs create meaning

2. Analyse signs, combine example with analysis

3. Camerawork - learn specific terminology & recognise elements

4. Practice analysing the camerawork elements separately

5. Practice essay structure and analysis

Section A. Media Texts
END IN MIND

The principle here is to break down an extract from a TV drama

into its component parts and then reassemble them in order to
reach some insights into how it produces particular meanings.
Section A. Media Texts
END IN MIND
The component parts to analyse:
• camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scène.
Section A. Media Texts
END IN MIND
STUDY STEPS
SEMIOTICS
1. Semiotics - learn how signs create meaning

2. Analyse signs, combine example with analysis

Semiotics - The Study of Signs

The BASICS for Section A. Media Texts

AS Media Studies
 Create a sentence using only emoji’s.
Paste it here and let’s see if we can “read” it!
WHAT ARE
SIGNS?
The smallest piece of information t
ENTRANCE &
EXIT SIGNS
What about these signs around the school?
How do you understand what you need to do
just by looking at them?
 1.

These 3 pairs of signs have the

same meaning.
But still, what makes the pairs
different one to the other? 2.

3.
There are 3 types of signs:
SIGN = SIGNIFIER + SIGNIFIED
 SIGN ANALYSIS
Analysing an image at denotative and connotative level can offer insight into the
meaning that the creator wanted to convey.

Pick an image ad for a favourite brand and analyse IN YOUR DIGITAL

NOTEBOOK the signs you see at denotative level (signifier) and the
meaning that is conveyed at connotative level (signified).
Example:
 ANYTHING TO
COMMENT?
Yes! Go on the linked website, create an account and start commenting -
identify and analyse signs.
3 different comments each of you.
 REPRESENTATI
1.
ON
STUDY STEPS

Semiotics - learn how signs create meaning

2. Analyse signs, combine example with analysis

Signs coming together create representations with advanced meanings

and understandings.
CREATE YOUR OWN Representation
“Equation” Sign+sign=representation
WHAT LIFESTYLE AND INTERESTS MIGHT THIS PERSON HAVE?
(Ps Please respond to this before going on next slide. )
JUSTIN TRUDEAU - Prime Minister of Canada
WHAT MAKES MAKES HIM LOOK DIFFERENT NOW?
 VALUES
Values can also be represented visually by using various elements coming together.

Spin the wheel and then create/find an image that represents that value.
Add it in your DIGITAL NOTEBOOK and write about it, why does it
transmit that particular value? How?
WHICH ASPECTS OF IDENTITY REPRESENTATION
WILL WE LOOK AT IN THE EXAM?
 SUCH A
CHARACTER!
We all are characters one way or another in our lives.
Imagine you are a character in a movie. How would you look like? Also,
what about your lifestyle, preferences, age, gender,race &
ethnicity,sexual identity, class and status,physical abilities/disabilities,
regional identity?
 CAMERAWORK
STUDY STEPS

1. Camerawork - learn specific terminology & recognise elements

2. Practice analysing the camerawork elements separately

CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES/MOVEMENT/COMPOSITION
EDITING
SOUND
MISE-EN-SCENE
Section A. CAMERAWORK
learning menu
END IN MIND
The component parts to analyse:
• camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scène.
 CAMERAWORK
STUDY STEPS

1. Camerawork - learn specific terminology & recognise elements

2. Practice analysing the camerawork elements separately

CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES/MOVEMENT/COMPOSITION
EDITING
SOUND
MISE-EN-SCENE