VCE MEDIA
Unit 4: Media: process, influence and society’s values
Overview of the study design
"In this unit students further develop practical skills in the production of media products to realise the production design plan completed during Unit 3. Organisational and creative skills are refined and applied throughout each stage of the production process. Students analyse the relationship between media texts, social values and discourses in the media. The nature and extent of media influence, the relationship between the media, media audiences and media regulation are also critically analysed in this unit." (VCAA, 2012)
"School-assessed Coursework for Unit 4 will contribute 12 per cent to students final mark. The level of achievement for Units 3 and 4 is also assessed by a School-assessed Task, which will contribute 37 per cent, and an end-of-year examination, which will contribute 45 per cent to students' final mark." (VCAA, 2012)
Hayley Duyn, Unit 4 pie chart, 2015
Area of study 1
Media process
VCE Study Design
Description
In this area of study students complete a media product based on a media production design plan completed in Unit 3. Each medium has a specific production process and set of work practices that are both appropriate to the particular medium and to the type of product being produced within that form. Each type of media product, however, requires the integration of a variety of skills, management and organisational techniques to move from planning documentation through production and postproduction processes to a completed media product. These vary depending on the nature of the product. Production and postproduction processes involve the application of media codes and conventions and stylistic considerations appropriate to the selected medium and for specific audience/s and purpose of the product.
On completion of this unit the student should be able to produce a media product for an identified audience from the media production design plan prepared in Unit 3.
Key knowledge
• production and postproduction practices and processes associated with adapting a production design plan for a given medium and product
• equipment and materials used in media production
• the operation of media production equipment and processes
• codes, conventions and styles appropriate to the selected medium, product and audience/s
• methods to support the realisation of a media product
• methods for recording and organising information to support the production process.
Key skills
• operate equipment and use materials and processes as appropriate to the selected media form
• apply codes and conventions and demonstrate stylistic awareness appropriate to the selected medium, product and audience/s
• communicate the realisation of an individual or a distinctive media product
• manage the production of a media product from the production design plan produced by the student
• organise and record information to support the production process.
Area of study 2
Media texts and society's values
VCE Study Design
Description
In this area of study students focus on the relationship between society’s values and media texts. Media representations reflect and mediate ideas from particular economic, social, cultural, political or institutional points of view. Students undertake the study of an identified significant idea, social attitude or discourse located in a range of media texts to critically analyse its representation in the media.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss and analyse the construction, distribution and interpretation of society’s values as represented in media texts.
Key knowledge
• the nature and form of an idea, a value, an attitude or a discourse evident in selected media texts
• the construction of representations in media texts and how these reflect values in society
• values held in society as represented and distributed through media texts
• the relationship between dominant, oppositional and emerging values represented in media texts
• the relationship between discourses or social issues and media texts • appropriate media language and terminology.
Key skills
• describe a social issue or discourse that is constructed, represented and distributed through media texts
• identify, compare and contrast representations in media texts
• analyse the relationships between dominant, oppositional and emerging values in society and media texts
• discuss and analyse the relationship between a discourse or issue, society’s values and media texts
• apply and use appropriate media language and terminology.
Area of study 3
Media's influence
VCE Study Design
Description
This area of study focuses on an analysis of media influence. Students explore the complexity of the relationship between the media, its audiences and the wider community in terms of the nature and extent of the media’s influence. Students examine arguments and evidence arising from a range of historical and contemporary developments that offer a range of perspectives about the nature, characteristics and extent of media influence on individuals and society at large. Theories of media influence and communication models are underpinned by academic approaches, including the political economy model, the effects tradition and the cultural studies model. Over time these theories have become increasingly sophisticated as they seek to explain the complexities in the relationships between the media and its audiences.
Outcome 3
On completion of this unit the student should be able to analyse and present arguments about the nature and extent of media influence.
Key knowledge
• communication theories and models and their application to media forms and texts
• theories of audience, their relationship with communication theories and models, and application to media forms and texts
• arguments and evidence about media influence on audiences and the broader society
• arguments surrounding the rationale for and regulation of the media • appropriate media language and terminology.
Key skills
• identify, compare and contrast communication theories and models
• apply communication theories and models to media forms and texts
• substantiate arguments about media influence
• discuss the relationship between audiences and media forms and texts
• analyse the rationale for and arguments about the regulation of the media
• use and apply appropriate media language and terminology.