Explore. Create. Critique. Connect.
What is Media Studies and why should I do it?
Media is everywhere; it shapes the way we see the world and ourselves. In VCE Media, you’ll explore how media products are constructed, how they represent people, places and ideas, and how audiences interpret and respond to them. You’ll also become a media creator, developing skills in planning, producing, and evaluating your own work in a range of formats from short films to photography, zines, podcasts, animation, and digital print.
In Y11 the course is structured across two units, both combine theory and practical work.
Unit 1: Foundations of Media
- Media Representations: How are people, places, and ideas represented in media products?
Analyse how media creators use codes and conventions to shape meaning and explore how representations both reflect and influence our culture and values. - Media Forms in Production: How do we make our own media products using representation techniques?
Develop technical skills and experiment with visual storytelling to plan and create your own short-form production. - Australian Stories: What makes a media story ‘Australian’?
Investigate how Australian identity, values, and perspectives are shaped through film, television, and online media.
Semester 2: Narratives, Style and Media Innovation
- Narrative, Style & Genre: How do creators build a distinct style within a genre?
Study narrative structures in media and analyse the techniques used by filmmakers, photographers, and content creators to build audience engagement. - Narratives in Production: How can we plan and produce an original media product?
Collaborate on a media production, applying the stages of the production process: development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution. - Media and Change: How is the media landscape changing, and how does that affect us?
Explore how emerging technologies – like streaming platforms, AI, social media and gaming – have transformed audience habits, media institutions, and society.
What will I do in class?
The course is a balanced mix of 60% theory and 40% practical, supporting different styles of learning.
Theory
- Analyse media products from film, TV, advertising, photography and digital media.
- Discuss how representation, narrative, ideology and media forms shape meaning.
- Explore the historical and social contexts of media.
- Reflect on how media both reflects and influences the world around us.
Media Production
- Learn how to plan and produce media work using industry-based tools.
- Develop practical skills in camera work, editing, layout design, sound, and sequencing.
- Work across formats such as:
- Short films/video projects
- Graphic novels and zines
- Podcasts/audio storytelling
- Print and digital layouts
How much homework will I have?
Expect around 2–3 hours per week, which may include:
- Watching and analysing media texts
- Planning or refining practical projects
- Completing folio tasks or research assignments
- Preparing presentations or written responses.
How will I be assessed?
You will complete a range of assessment tasks across both theory and production.
Prouction Tasks
May include:
- Short film or video sequences
- Podcasts or audio narratives
- Photography series or photomedia artworks
- Print designs or zines
- Posters or digital infographics
- Animation or motion graphics
Theory-Based Tasks
May include:
- Written responses and folio annotations
- Analytical essays
- Oral or video presentations
- Research reports or reflective commentary
How do I satisfactorily complete the unit?
To satisfactorily complete the unit, you must:
- Attend regularly
- Actively participate in both individual and group tasks
- Submit all required work to an acceptable standard
Why Choose Media?
This course is ideal if you:
- Love film, photography, social media, podcasts or design
- Are interested in storytelling, visual language and social issues
- Enjoy working hands-on with technology and creative tools
- Want to develop critical thinking and production skills for further study or careers in:
- Film & TV
- Journalism & Media Communication
- Photography & Design
- Advertising & Marketing
- Animation & Game Design
- Digital Content Creation