Year 2 (national level 5):
Core modules:
Cinema and Society (30 credits)
Why does cinema matter? Uncover the social impact of film and how it’s understood in the world of academia, the film industry, and the media. You’ll look at cinema as both a global art form and a product, examining how it’s made, watched, and valued in different cultures.
Through this, you’ll build skills in critical thinking and project development, helping you see film not just as entertainment, but as a powerful force in society.
Factual Media Production (30 credits)
How do news and factual content shape what we know and how society works? Dive into the role of fact-based media across TV, online platforms, and beyond.
Develop skills to analyse how media influences public knowledge and democracy, exploring current issues and important theories.
By creating your factual media, you’ll gain a strong understanding of how media messages are built and why they matter.
Real-World Media Research (30 credits)
How does everyday media shape who we are? Explore the history and importance of media research, especially in a world where technology and media habits are constantly changing.
Learn about key research studies and develop your own practical research project, or take up a placement if you choose. By the end, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how media use connects to identity, beliefs, and behaviour. As well as valuable research and problem-solving skills you can use in both academic and professional settings.
Optional modules (choose one):
Script to screen (30 credits)
What makes a great TV drama or comedy? Explore the craft of scriptwriting for television and streaming platforms like Netflix or Amazon. Learn how to take an idea from concept to treatment, and finally turn it into a script.
Along the way, you’ll study the work of key screenwriters, gaining insight into how great stories are written and brought to life on screen.
Popular Culture (30 credits)
What lies beneath the surface of popular culture? Challenge accepted ideas and explore how everyday media, trends, and cultural practices can reflect or hide deeper inequalities.
Using tools from British Cultural Studies, including Marxism, feminism, and postmodernism, you’ll learn to critically analyse cultural texts and practices, from the mainstream to the niche. You’ll develop your own timely, thought provoking commentary that questions the norms and power structures shaping our world.
Hidden Histories (30 credits)
What happens to films and media that disappear? Explore the world of forgotten, hidden, or at risk media. Learn how to find, question, and understand the factors that make some films and media vulnerable to being lost over time.
From archiving challenges and censorship to copyright issues and cultural shifts, you’ll uncover the reasons behind disappearing media histories and explore how we can better preserve them for the future.
