EDUQAS GCSE Media Studies Handbook

Mastering Media

Induction Unit

• Introduction to Media Language, Representation, Industry, and Audience –

• Exploration into Barbenheimer and Steve Neale’s Genre Theory

Component One

• James Bond Franchise: Man With The Golden Gun and No Time To Die 

• Explorations: Laura Mulvey and the Male Gaze, Paul Gilroy and Postcolonialism – critical perspectives on representation within film.

• Revising James Bond.

• Fortnite Franchise: History of Video Games and Fortnite – exploring the development and impact of video game culture.

• Explorations: Uses and Gratifications Theory – understanding audience motivations and media consumption.

• Revising Fortnite

• Advertising: History of Advertising, Quality Street and NHS 111 – analysing advertising techniques and their social context.

• Explorations: Regency Period 1950s– understanding historical influences on advertising and media. Laura Mulvey and Male Gaze

• Revising Advertising

• Magazines: History of Magazines, Vogue and GQ – examining magazine design, target audiences, and editorial content.

• Explorations: He Named Me Malala and Taliban Conflict – analysing media representations of conflict and social issues. Bell Hooks - Race and Feminism

• Revising Magazines

  
  

  Radio: History of Radio, The Archers (2026 only), Desert Island Discs (2027)– examining the role of radio in society and culture.

• Explorations: Public Service Broadcasting and Curran and Seaton – analysing the impact of media ownership and regulation.

• Revising the Archers

  
  

• Newspapers: Historical context of newspapers, The Sun and The Guardian. Lettering and Fonts

• Explorations: Examination of contemporary issues through newspaper coverage – focusing on the Partygate Scandal, The Leveson Inquiry, and the use of Political Satire.

• Revising Newspapers

Component Two

• Television:  Crime Drama, Luther (2026),  Trigger Point (2027), The Sweeney, 21st Century Policing, and The 1970s – exploring the evolution of crime drama conventions.

• Explorations: 1980s, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, Postmodernism and Intertextuality – analysing narrative techniques and cultural references.

• Revising Crime Drama 2026

• Pop Music Promotion: History of Music Video, Web Design, Lizzo, Justin Bieber,  Duran Duran,– examining promotional strategies across different platforms.

• Explorations: New Pop and MTV, Top of the Pops  Smash Hits Magazine  Stuart Hall - Representation Theory – understanding how media constructs meaning and identity.

• Revising Pop Promotion