YEAR 13 LESSON TWENTY EIGHT [18th May 11]: Homework.

Students attempted a task that was a 'fusion' of MEST 3 Section A and B. The two texts used were the trailer for Tim Hetherington's RESTREPO and the mobile phone footage of the police attack on Ian Tomlinson that was published in the online Guardian. Click on link to access both texts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCPnJaxC17o&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HECMVdl-9SQ

After a class discussion the class attempted three questions in 50 minutes:

1. How do the two media products represent violence?

2.How has new digital media transformed our ability to consume information?

3.What is the appeal to audiences of texts like RESTREPO? You can refer to other texts that you have studied throughout the year.

The answer to this question demands reference to the U and G theory and Dyer's Utopian Solutions theory.

AS MEDIA EXAMINATION PODCAST.

Click on link below to access a 'last minute' revision podcast. The podcast provides general guidance for students preparing to sit the AS exam on Tuesday afternoon.
http://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/mest-1-section-a-media-podcast

YEAR 13 LESSON TWENTY SEVEN [11th May 11]: Homework.

Students were guided towards a task designed to replicate MEST 3 Section A. Students were offered two media texts. The texts can be accessed below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9d9-pHZzIE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vIsQ25Krq8

After a class discussion the class attempted to produce a timed response to the following questions:

1. How is space travel represented in the two media texts?

2. What is the appeal to audiences of these types of text? You may refer to other media texts to support your answer.

3. Some critics believe that Dr.Who is too violent and frightening for broadcast before the watershed. Do you think media regulation is necessary? You should refer to other media products to support your answer.

Homework: Provide a written response to the question: ' Is the internet a blessing or a curse?'

The aim of this question is to inspire students to provide a for/against argument that provides evidence of independent study and critical autonomy. I would like the written work to provide evidence that students are aware of current media debates and issues.

FOR EXAMPLE.....Online Privacy issues:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13358293

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13208867

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13162893
Media and Democracy issues....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/may/13/china-cracks-down-on-vpn-use
The Music industry...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13388839

YEAR 13 LESSON TWENTY SIX [4th May 2011]: Homework.

The aim of this first lesson after the Spring break was to remind all students that they are media students and then, having made this fact abundantly clear, begin to focus upon the requirements of MEST 3 Section B. The class were encouraged to provide an oral response to a series of MEST 3 Section B related essay questions.

Homework: Provide a written response to one of the essay questions considered in the final section of the lesson.

YEAR 12 CROSS-MEDIA STUDY REVISION PODCAST.

If Year 12 students click on the link below they will find a revision podcast that provides an overview of the areas that need to be considered when responding to our Cross-Media Study. I have tried to provide a comprehensive and detailed LECTURE that explores the key features of our documentary/Hybrid-documentary case study.

BE WARNED. This is a thirty minute podcast so it is probably a good idea to listen to my lecture in small sections as you may slip into a severe coma. I have written a jazz soundtrack to accompany this podcast. I can only apologise.

In a perfect world, students will digest this resource before our final lesson on Tuesday and if there are any areas of this podcast that you may find confusing, we can discuss these issues on Tuesday.
http://soundcloud.com/fishymedia/podcast-two-aqa-as-media

MEST 3 SECTION B Resource: BBC CLICK article relating to technology and social/political protest.

Below is a BBC Click article that provides an overview of how new media is being used to organise protest. This relates directly to the Media and Democracy issues that we have discussed throughout Year 13. Students must be aware of how the UK student protests and the uprisings in the Middle East have used digital technology. This article contains a series of links that I would encourage students to peruse. The fact that Egypt recently 'closed' the internet during the uprising is a massive issue.Students need to be aware how this was achieved and the implications of this act.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9451521.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12306041

This article relates to the murder of OBL and how a live Tweet was the first media record of this news. There is an excellent video at the bottom of this article that is well worth three minutes of your time. It deals with the power of social media.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13257940

Are governments restricting net freedom? BBC article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9386720.stm

I have mentioned this site many times but I would advise ALL students interested in Media to be aware of the BBC Click site. It is an excellent resource for contemporary media issues and debates.

APPLE ACCUSED OF EXPLOITING CHINESE WORKERS.

All media students need to be aware of 'where' our digital technology is made and the economic impact of the digital revolution. These two articles from today's Observer are sad and alarming.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/30/apple-chinese-factory-workers-suicides-humiliation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/30/apple-chinese-workers-treated-inhumanely

UNCUT INTERVIEWS FROM THE BBC's 'The Virtual Revolution'.

I just want to nudge Year 13 towards this fantastic resource. The website designed to promote this essential media resource includes extended interviews with some of the pioneers of digital technology and credible media critics. I would advise all students to access these interviews. Clay Shirky, Andrew Keen, Stephen Fry, Tim Berners-Lee, Jimmy Wales, Steve Wozniak, John Perry Barlow, Sherry Turkle....there is a feast of fantastic uncut and extended interviews here that deal with the debates and issues that relate directly to Mest 3 Section B. Tuck in you media freaks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualrevolution/interviews.shtml

DIGITAL MEDIA and the ROYAL WEDDING.

This resource is aimed at Year 13 and relates to the impact of digital media thus is appropriate for Mest 3 Section B. This BBC article provides an overview of how digital media was used to report the event.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13236856