YEAR 12 LESSON ONE [10th Sept]: Homework.

Students were introduced to the structure of the course [50% coursework / 50% exam] and also introduced to some basic media terminology. Students were encouraged to consider how media forms are used to shape representation and were introduced to the concept that all texts are mediated. Texts that were used to explore media issues are available via the links below::

Kick Ass Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5mxBaXHcFw

Skins Trailer One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm0onseM1Mw

Skins Trailer Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0L-xparmI&feature=related

BGS Olympic Film documentary: http://vimeo.com/46722389

Students were also shown the opening sequence of Steven Spielberg's 1975 film 'JAWS' and asked to consider how Steviebaby uses media forms to shape the representation of the sea. Click on link below to access this resource:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrEvK-tv5OI&feature=fvwrel

I gave students an exemplar essay that considers the representation of the sea in this famous sequence. Please read this response and note how media language is used to construct a critical media response. Similarly, read the SKINS exemplar essay. It is essential that students develop an understanding of how the language of media is used to construct a coherent written response.

HOMEWORK: Read all the material that I gave to you in today's session. It would be most pleasing if students arrive at the next session with an awareness of media terms such as diegetic sound, non-diegetic sound, connotation, mediation, preferred reading, polysemic etc.

READ THE MATERIAL.

Students also need to follow this blog.

Furthermore, watch this resource as we will be discussing this famous filmic moment in our next lesson. How does Hitchcock use media forms to construct this disturbing moment in the film 'PSYCHO'? Click on link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4

YOU LOT WERE FANTASTIC TODAY. A GREAT START. KEEP IT UP.

YEAR 13 LESSON ONE [5th Sept 12]: Homework.

Students were introduced to the structure of the A2 course [50% exam/50% coursework]. At some point reference was made to the existence of Motown Records and this classic tune was offered to the bewildered students:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2fnYpwrng

Students were encouraged to consider the advantages and disadvantages of digital media.

HOMEWORK: Students must watch the first episode of the Virtual Revolution. The first three episodes provide a perfect foundation from which to build an understanding of the digital revolution and the media issues and debates relevant to the A2 course. These episodes are stuffed full of media goodness. WATCH THEM. Click on link below:

http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/resources-for-a2-studentsand-very-keen.html

In the next lesson we will be examining how the BBC uses digital technology and how this use of technology has enhanced the service that the BBC can provide. Click on links below and explore how the BBC uses the potential of digital media.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/

I made reference to the BBC's unique Olympic coverage and here are some articles that explore some issues that link to the BBC's Olympic coverage. Feel free to peruse:

BBC defends Olympic coverage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkbiGxHlfa8

The BBC's digital Olympics:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2012/08/record_breaking_viewing_figure.html

BBC Olympic Blog. The story of the digital Olympics:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2012/08/digital_olympics_reach_stream_stats.html

One of the key features of the A2 course is that the course aims to develop and encourage independent study in an attempt to generate CRITICAL AUTONOMY . I advise ALL students to navigate through the fishymedia archive with the aim of developing a more sophisticated understanding of contemporary media issues and debates. For example, today I referred to the contrasting views of ANDREW KEEN and CLAY SHIRKY. Click on the links below to access their very different interpretations of the power of new digital media:

ANDREW KEEN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGG1QKG6AjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFaNFj6QkJI&feature=related

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/jul/20/computingandthenet.books

CLAY SHIRKY:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/digitalrevolution/2009/10/rushes-sequences-clay-shirky-i.shtml

http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/clay-shirky-interviewed-by-decca.html

Beginner's guide to internet censorship:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPAvg6CU6sI

It was great to see you lot again. I look forward to challenging your intellect in a very positive media manner. If any student has a curry, stick it in a pint glass and give it to Evie!

See you next week.

RESOURCES FOR A2 Students..and very keen AS Level students!

A2 students will be asked to consider the impact of digital media this year and the following resources should provide the foundation of basic 'digital' knowledge required to grapple with the demands of the course. The BBC documentary series 'THE VIRTUAL REVOLUTION' is still an essential resource and the link below will allow students to access the first episode. I consider this to be an invaluable resource for students attempting to comprehend the issues and debates raised by the digital revolution. The link below will move students towards the first ten minute You Tube clip from the first episode. Students should navigate through the series from this point. The first THREE ONE HOUR EPISODES will provide students with a panoramic understanding of the history, context and potential of the digital world. THIS IS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPD4Ep_J81k

The website linked to this series is also an essential resource. ALL students are encouraged to peruse this site. There is a mass of material here that did not make the final cut of the documentary series. I find this site an invaluable source of information. THIS IS ANOTHER ESSENTIAL RESOURCE:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n4j0r

For example, this interview with Stephen Fry:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/digitalrevolution/2009/10/rushes-sequences-stephen-fry.shtml

This page offers interviews with individuals at the heart of the digital revolution:

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

ALL MEDIA STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SHOULD USE THE RESOURCES ON THE VIRTUAL REVOLUTION WEBPAGE AND NAVIGATE THROUGH THE LINKS OFFERED HERE.

THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER ALSO OFFERED THIS RESOURCE IN APRIL 2012. THIS UK BROADSHEET NEWSPAPER OFFERED A WHOLE WEEK OF ARTICLES THAT EXPLORED A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT LINK TO THE DIGITAL WORLD. THIS IS A TEXTBOOK FOR MEDIA STUDENTS. THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE EXPLODING WITH RELEVANT ARTICLES THAT SHOULD INFORM AND STIMULATE ANY HUMAN BEING INTERESTED IN THE ISSUES AND DEBATES LINKED TO DIGITAL MEDIA.

I WOULD ADVISE ALL STUDENTS TO DIP INTO THIS VAST RESOURCE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.

Click on the links below:

http://fishymediaresources.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/digital-media-issues-and-debates.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/series/battle-for-the-internet

Will Self: The internet is a false friend.

Writer Will Self offers some interesting views. A2 students should watch this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDoBqeV6Lc&feature=fvwrel

Will is still not a fan of the internet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP_lVat3YA4&feature=fvwrel

ASK ME Mr.RICHARD BACON..YOU TUBE CLIP.

The A2 course will demand that students can answer questions such as:

• To what extent do you agree with the view that the internet has empowered the individual?
• 'You Tube is merely a trivial digital platform that offers cheap mainstream entertainment.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of internet access?

I will be looking at THE IMPACT OF NEW DIGITAL MEDIA and BHS will be dealing with issues linked to REPRESENTATION.

The YOU TUBE clip below was recently created by chunkymark in response to a feature on the BBC Radio 5 afternoon show hosted by Richard Bacon. Bacon had interviewed a comedian who has an act that deals with political issues but when Richard Bacon asked how the comedian would change the country she did not offer any coherent views. Click on link below to view the response of an individual who was listening to the show. This individual claims to be a taxi driver:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBUjc_bUaxM

What does this clip tell us about digital media? What are the digital issues and debates that can be linked to this clip?

This is an A2 exercise and I will be throwing this clip in your direction next week.

HELLO ONCE MORE MEDIA FREAKS.

NOW THEN MEDIA FREAKS. IT IS VERY NEARLY TIME TO RUSH BACK TO THE CLASSROOM WITH A MEDIA SONG IN YOUR HEART AND SOME STRONG MEDIA IDEAS ZIPPING THROUGH YOUR TEENAGE MIND...or something.

So, the results are in and the A2 course is about to begin. I was pleased with the results although I would advise two or three students to resit the exam. We'll discuss resits next week. Students need to arrive back in my media world armed with an understanding of the media related events that have shaken the summer. For example:

• The decision by the Sun to print the Prince Harry photograph. What are the implications of this decision? How might this relate to the Leveson Inquiry? Click on link to access relevant resources that explore this issue:

http://www.channel4.com/news/sun-publishes-prince-harry-naked-pictures

http://www.channel4.com/news/photographs-of-prince-harry-naked-published-online

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19401397

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19353001

• The coverage of the London Olympics may be an area of interest for students. How much did the BBC spend on this coverage? Worth the money?

• The PUSSY RIOT trial in Moscow. How was this trial represented across the world? How did Russia Today represent the trial when compared to the BBC's coverage? How did Fox News in America represent the trial?

• Why is the Julian Assange affair significant for a media student? What are the media issues and debates that link to this event? Click on links below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19316973

http://www.channel4.com/news/julian-assange-a-modern-day-evita

• Apple and Samsung? Click on link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/19388450

• What are the media issues and debates that link to James Holmes and the Aurora shooting at the screening of the new Batman film ? The influence of 'shoot-em-up' computer games on the behaviour of Norwegian mass-killer Anders Breivik? How could media theory be applied to these two awful incidents? Click on links below:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/19/anders-breivik-call-of-duty

http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/04/25/does-breiviks-claims-of-honing-skills-on-call-of-duty-mean-we-should-worry-about-video-games/

A2 Media Studies demands that all students are aware of the contemporary media landscape and our first lesson will be discussing media issues and debates that relate to the last six weeks.

I expect ALL students to be fully aware of the implications of the LEVESON INQUIRY and how this relates to The Sun's decision to publish the photograph of Harry Prince on its front page.

See you next week media freaks.

TWO OLYMPIC FILMS.

Hope you lot are having a great break and avoiding prison. Here are two films that may interest students new and old as both films relate to Beverley. The first film was created by Year 7/8/9 students in the final week of term and documents the events that were offered as part of the Beverley Grammar School Olympic Week. I think that this film is a really smart documentary. I helped with editing and narrative structure but ALL the filming and some editing was undertaken by lower school students. We have some serious talent in the lower school. Click on link to access the film:

https://vimeo.com/46803725

The second film is aimed at an older audience and involves the teachers of BGS sharing their Olympic memories and considering the educational nature of the Olympic Games. I made this when you lot were on exam leave. Click on link below:

https://vimeo.com/46722389

LUKE CAMPBELL FOR GOLD?!!