Intent:

We live in a “media age”, spending much of our lives online, playing video games, listening to music, watching TV, reading newspapers and magazines, surrounded by advertising.

However, unless we’re trained to critically read media, we can easily be manipulated and lied to. We may form a distorted view of what the world is “really” like. In Media Studies, we help students to become effective critical thinkers, inspiring curiosity and encouraging our classes to question the messages and values presented in popular culture. Through exploring issues such as political bias, income inequality, sexism and racism in our culture, we extend our eyes – outside Saltash - to the global issues that affect everyone.

As filmmaker George Lucas puts it, “if people aren’t taught the language of sound and images, shouldn’t they be considered as illiterate as if they left college without being able to read and write?”

Classes will also have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they acquire. This course equips students with the ability to create their own media - using professional software such as Adobe Photoshop – essential skills in the 21^st Century. As journalist, Lina Ellerbee, says, “Media literacy is not just important, it’s absolutely critical. It’s going to make the difference between whether kids are a tool of the mass media or whether the mass media is a tool for kids to use.”

Media Studies is an exciting and stimulating course that will help students find new ways to express themselves, while “opening their eyes” to the hidden messages that surround us.

Concepts: