Moving to second year - summer work

Next year in media studies you'll be exploring an exciting range of subjects. If you haven't done so already make sure you read this post for a quick heads up on what's in store. However, there's lots you can do to make sure you're fully prepared.

Media is a subject where the more diverse the media products you are exposed to, the more nuanced your responses will be. This obviously will lead to higher grades, but ultimately it will lead to you becoming a more urbane and well rounded person. We are not being factitious when we say media, be it videogames, TV, online media or any other product, will lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of life.

For the upcoming summer holiday, we would like you to broaden your horizons, by watching as many films, TV shows, playing as many videogames, and visiting as many websites as possible. Below is a list to get you started. Some of these products are technically not appropriate for under 18's, so let's see if various regulations actually stop you.

TV

Watch a Korean drama (for example on Netflix). Examples include: 

Oh, My Ghost!
Hello My Twenties 
Strong Girl Bong-Hoon

Watch a French TV show. Examples include:

Call My Agent
Deep
The Break
The Returned
The Frozen Dead

Here are a few other examples of TV shows that are generically, representationally and/or/culturally relevant: 

Atlanta 
Love Island
The Handmaid's tale
Altered Carbon
Westworld 

Jack's top five favourite TV shows

The Sopranos
Atlanta
The Bridge
Deutschland '83
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Michael's top five favourite TV shows

The Wire
Preacher
Misfits
Äkta Människor (Humans)
The Kingdom

Videogames

Play an independently developed and published videogame. Examples include:

Undertale
Localhost
The Stanley Parable
Hatoful Boyfriend
Cave Story
Doki Doki Literature club

Play a videogame made before 1995. Maybe ask your parents or teachers for help with this one!

Michael's top five favourite videogames

Umihara Kawase

Nier Automata

Killer 7

The Silver Case: The 25th Ward

Danganronpa

Radio

Listen to the radio for an evening. That's it! How does this differ from watching TV or surfing the internet? 

Online media

Register and post on an online forum for something you are interested in, for example a specific genre of videogames or a cult TV show like Dr Who. 

Check out these vloggers to get a good idea what it's all about:

Tanya Burr
KSI
Patricia Bright
ThatcherJoe
Ingrid Nilsen
PewDiePie

Film

We don't cover textual analysis of film in media studies, but independently we recommend that you watch as many films as possible. Here are a few easily available examples:

Annihilation
Gods Own Country
Okja
Loveless
Hereditary 
A Ghost Story

Jack's top five favourite films:

Adam and Paul (2004)
There Will Be Blood (2008)
Mad Max Fury Road (2015)
E.T (1982)
A Prophet (2011)

Michael's top five favourite films:

Persona (1966)
Enter the Void (2009)

Tokyo Drifter (1966)

Late Spring (1949)

Tetsuo The Iron Man (1989)