Topic on a Page: Theoretical Perspectives for A Level Media Studies

Specially designed to be used across all boards for the 2017 A Level Media Studies specifications

Encourage your students to be analytical learners and give them the confidence to support their exam responses with a sound understanding of the prescribed A Level Media theories.

These visual and engaging A3 (photocopiable) revision posters cover the key theorists and concepts in a student-friendly, easy-to-understand approach, ensuring students have all the knowledge they need to excel in this particularly tricky area of the exam.

All key theories covered:
  1. Semiotics (Media Language) – Roland Barthes (Media Language)
  2. Narratology (Media Language) – Tzvetan Todorov
  3. Genre Theory (Media Language) – Steven Neale
  4. Structuralism (Media Language) – Claude Lévi-Strauss
  5. Postmodernism (Media Language) – Jean Baudrillard
  6. Theories of Representation (Media Representation) – Stuart Hall
  7. Theories of Identity (Media Representation) – David Gauntlett
  8. Feminist Theory (Media Representation) – Liesbet van Zoonen
  9. Feminist Theory (Media Representation) – bell hooks
  10. Gender Performativity (Media Representation) – Judith Butler
  11. Ethnicity and Postcolonial Theory (Media Representation) – Paul Gilroy
  12. Power and Media Industries (Media Audiences) – Curran and Seaton
  13. Regulation (Media Audiences) – Livingstone and Lunt
  14. Cultural Industries (Media Audiences) – David Hesmondhalgh
  15. Media Effects (Media Audiences) – Albert Bandura
  16. Cultivation Theory (Media Audiences) – George Gerbner
  17. Reception Theory (Media Audiences) – Stuart Hall
  18. Fandom (Media Audiences) – Henry Jenkins
  19. End of Audience (Media Audiences) – Clay Shirky

Each topic summary is provided as:

  1. A complete Revision Poster
  2. A partially complete Activity Poster with focused and varied tasks for structured revision (in both A3 and A4 format!)
  • Concise notes covering key knowledge and terminology students need for the exam
  • Clear and relevant examples illustrating challenging concepts
  • Presented in an engaging and easy-to-access format – perfect for visual learners

Facilitates manageable revision…

  • Hand out at the end of the course or topic for revision and consolidation
  • Assign partially completed posters as in-class activities or homeworks
  • Display in classroom or use as place mats as visual cues

What do teachers say about this resource? (10499)

Fulfills it's intent of condensing valuable information into manageable, bitesized pieces of information for each theory well and does it in student friendly language. I like the fact it covers contextual information regarding the theories as to their origins as well, ensuring they have clear understanding. It would enhance learning as they could be used as a quick reference guide for students to consider applying theories to texts. I think it would also enhance learning as it helps to provide key information in manageable way and makes it a suitable revision resource for students to use in away that best suits them. It has good educational value as it can be used by both a teacher to guide students through a theory or as an independent learning tool to enhance their knowledge further or to revise key elements from. I like that the layout for each of the mindmaps is different with an appropriate amount of 'white space' between sections so as to not overload the page and that each section on the page is either boxed off or separated from other aspects too. As this resource is suited across the different board based on the theories that are to be applied to different case studies, I feel it is a useful revision tool, covering the necessary theorists in a succinct manner

J Murdoch, Teacher & Peer Reviewer