History of Media Studies

Jimmy Nash

Aim: To provide an educative insight into the history and progress of media education.

History of Media Studies

‘I think there is no question that there will be Media Education as an established part of schooling in 20 years time’.

Cary Bazalgette

History of Media Studies

Media Studies has been around for a number of years......

1960s

In the UK, media studies emerged from the academic study of English and literary criticism. It started to grow in colleges and polytechnics, rather than through established universities, and further challenges the distinctions between high culture and popular culture.

1970sDevelopments in Media Studies continued from the 60s.

Advent of influential journals ‘Screen’ and ‘Screen Education’.

During the 1970s, Screen was particularly influential in the nascent field of film studies. It published many articles that have become standards in the field. It is still highly regarded in academic circles.

1980sThere were accelerating developments in computing, telecommunications and software during the 1980s.

Len Masterman publishes ‘Teaching about Television’ (1980) and ‘Teaching the Media’ (1985). The development of media education is part of a wider move towards ‘democratisation’ – where students’ out-of-school cultures are recognised as valid and worthy of consideration in the school curriculum.

1980s / 90s

‘the big step forward over the past 3 or 4 years has been the development of national GCSE course in Media Studies now offered by five Boards and taken by something like 20,000 students each year’.

Len Masterman

1990s

Media Studies faced a few problems.

Media Education continues to develop but much was still required to justify it as a subject worthy of academic study.

Most teachers of media did not have a background in the subject; most were English or Drama.

1990s

However, the 90s could also be said to be the most important decade in Media Studies in education.

Len Masterman played an influential part in supporting Media Education and its teachers.

Len Masterman

‘Len Masterman’s work over the last decade has been influential... he remains the most incisive and reliable guide for teachers’.

Andrew Hart

1990sMedia Education began to gain acknowledgement across the world.

‘the European Minister of Education resolved that there should be Media Education throughout compulsory schooling in all European countries... and that the UNESCO have taken out a five year plan to develop Media Education throughout the world’.

Cary Bazalgette

1990s

In 1998 the Film Education Working Group (FEWG) was formed at the request of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to explore ways of developing a more ‘cineliterate’ audience for cinema.

It was formed of 25 members who were teachers and lectures in Film and Media Studies and representatives from film and television industries and institutions.

2000s

The acknowledgement and need for Media Studies grew and the ever growing developments in technology and children’s experience of using them, has helped to promote this need.

Children’s existing knowledge seen as starting point for Media Education and UK Government recognises importance of Media Education.

2000s‘critical understanding of film, video and television is becoming an integral part of literacy... Children spend more time with moving images than they do with school work, and through this they acquire an enormous amount of knowledge and experience which some teachers are learning to access and develop’

BFI

2000sThere was also a range of government and commercial initiatives offered to schools to update their equipment and get access to training.

Schools now have iMacs, Final Cut Pro editing software, iPads, Flip Cams, and Film studios. Students have the opportunity to use these technologies, not just in Media studies but across the curriculum.

Media StudiesMedia Studies is an important subject and needs to get more recognition and appreciation than it currently does.

We live in a mediated world, media and technology is all around us and is one of the biggest industries in the world.

Having Media Studies in school helps to develop young people’s expertise and gives them an opportunity to develop these skills and potentially progress into the film or television industry.

Bibliography:  Marris, P and Thornham, S, Media Studies: A Reader, Second Edition, Edinburgh

University Press, 1999

Hart, A, Understanding the Media: A Practical Guide, Routledge, 1991

BFI, Moving Images in the Classroom: A Secondary teachers’ guide to using film and television, Cromwell Press Ltd, 2000

BFI, Making Movies Matter: Report of the Film Education Working Group, Norwich Colour Print Ltd, 1999

Rayner, P, Wall, P and Kruger, S, Media Studies: The Essential Resource, Routledge, 2004

 Websites:TES – History of Media Studieshttp://www.tes.co.uk/ResourceDetail.aspx?storyCode=3003462(Accessed 06/09/12)