Media Studies A-level Lesson 1

Component 1 Social and Political Context: An Introduction

Section A
Music Video

Key Terms:

Social context: The way in which the media text you are studying is informed by or is
affected by the society in which it exists.

Political context: The way in which the media text you are studying is informed by or is
affected by the systems in government.

Symbolism: How visual codes within a media text create meaning or suggest particular
connotations

Intertextuality: When a media text refers to another text, though not necessarily
another media text.

Juxtaposed: When two images are contrasted to create particular meaning.

Activity 1

View the music video for Childish Gambino’s song ‘This is America’. Make notes in
response to the questions below and be prepared to discuss your ideas with the group:

 why is this video important?

 why is it popular?
 how did audiences respond?
 what events and issues have been represented?
 how have events and issues been represented?
 what is seen and what is unseen?
 how is the audience positioned in relation to the artist?
 what are the social or political messages?
 how has technology impacted the video?
 what intertextual references can you spot?
 how is intertextuality used to create meaning?
 how is symbolism used to create meaning?
 how are images juxtaposed to impact meaning?

Name:
Date:
Media Studies A-level Lesson 1
Component 1 Social and Political Context: An Introduction
Section A
Music Video

Activity 2

Below is a list of music videos that explore and comment on social and/or political
issues. Working in a pair, select one of the videos to analyse using the questions as a
guide:

M.I.A. ‘Borders’
Pink ‘What About Us’
Run the Jewels ‘Close Your Eyes’
Lady Gaga ‘Til it Happens to You’
Jennifer Hudson ‘I Still Love You’
Pussy Riot ‘Make America Great Again’
J Cole ‘Crooked Smile’

Independent Study Tasks

1. Read: Curriculum Press no. 170 Paul Gilroy on Postcolonialsm

2. Read: factsheets 102 and 103 on Ethnicity.

3. Listen to: Russell Brand interviewing Paul Gilroy on his podcast called ‘Under the Skin
– Who are the Slaves Now?’. You can find a video version on YouTube or download
the podcast to your phone.

4. Respond: How does This is America explore issues relating to race and ethnicity?
Refer to Gilroy in your response and provide examples from the text. Up to 1000
words.

Name:
Date: