Here is a selection of various articles that have the potential to be good case studies. Please take some time to read them and think of which exam questions they could be applied to.
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AS Level
Section B
Kings League (2023)
A new sport created from a synergetic relationship between an ex-football player and social media influencers. Audiences want more exciting sporting events and so this league was created. Watch the video and learn a little about it.
Questions to Consider:
- What does the audience want?
- How are their needs met?
- How has technology made this sport possible?
- How are the fans of this sport targeted through social media?
- How are their needs met?
- How has technology made this sport possible?
- How are the fans of this sport targeted through social media?
Cayote vs Acme getting canned(2023)
Warner Brothers Discovery cancelled a new movie that had already been completed and well received by critics. The reason is because since the merger of the to companies they have tried to take the film studio in a new direction that this film didn't fit into, they decided that the marketing and distribution would have been too expensive and so 'deleted' the movie at a $70 million loss. Read this article and find out more details.
Questions to Consider:
- Does the company care about audience opinion?
- Is profit more important than creating good content?
- How did the ownership of the company impact the content being produced?
- What other properties were cancelled after being completed?
Taylor Swift's Release (2023)
The pop artist is rerecording and rereleasing many of the albums from her early career. The reason is because she does not own the rights to the music, instead the rights to the songs have changed ownership a few times, and the profits earned from each playing do not go to Taylor Swift. Rereleasing the albums is her attempt at regaining control of the production and distribution of her work. Read the article to get more details.
Questions to Consider:
- What can Taylor Swift do differently now that she owns her own music?
- What companies were involved in the buying and selling of her music?
- How will the audience (her fans) react to this?
- Is it right that an artist shouldn't own their own music?
SAG-AFTRA Writers Strike (2023)
A labour strike including actors and writers brought Hollywood to a standstill for five months. Some of the main issues were the shift to new media platforms like streaming sites and the potential inclusion of AI in production. Members stuck together and eventually reached a deal that benefited the low earners in the film and TV industry. Read this article to find out more about the deal that was struck.
Questions to Consider:
- What responsibility do companies have to ensure that their workers are treated fairly? - What other emerging technologies could disrupt the media landscape?
- What effect could this five month break have on the film industry?
(This case study can be used when discussing a) New Media; the effect of streaming sites on the industry, and b) Media Ownership: how large, capitalist media companies want more profit at the expense of their workers. )
A Level
Media Regulation
Jon Stewart and Apple (2023)
Jon Stewart, host of a political talk show on AppleTV had his show cancelled by Apple. It is reported that the issue was over a segment of his show that was critical of the Chinese government. Read this article to find out more about the relationship between Apple and China.
Questions to Consider:
- Do people with content on AppleTV have freedom of speech?
- What is Apple's conflict of interest?
- How will audiences learn the truth if voices are over regulated for things like this?
Jon Stewart, host of a political talk show on AppleTV had his show cancelled by Apple. It is reported that the issue was over a segment of his show that was critical of the Chinese government. Read this article to find out more about the relationship between Apple and China.
Questions to Consider:
- Do people with content on AppleTV have freedom of speech?
- What is Apple's conflict of interest?
- How will audiences learn the truth if voices are over regulated for things like this?
Postmodernism
Strange Beasts (2021)
A satirical short film that raises questions about societies reliance on technology, including using apps to replace real relationships. This could be a great case study to lead into debates on reality and hyperreality. Watch the video here.
Questions to Consider:
- Are there any existing apps/technology that are similar to this?
- Are there any existing apps/technology that are similar to this?
- Is the relationship fake even if the emotions experienced by the user are real?
- What is the social commentary a reference to in the real world (satire)?
Power and the Media
Media Ecology
Kupid AI
The dating app Cupid AI uses AI technology to learn from its users and generate interactions that will be more appealing to the audience. Users will be given an AI girlfriend that they can converse with and even view using AI generated images. Watch this video to find out more.
Questions to Consider:
- What effect might this have on dating/human interaction in the future?
- What effect might this have on dating/human interaction in the future?
- What technologies have made this possible?
- How did changing audience behaviours lead to the development of this app?
- How do you know if the people you are speaking to on social media are real?
(Could also be applied to Postmodernism; realities)
The Beatles new song, Now and Then (2023)
Despite breaking up over 50 years ago, and there only being two of the four band members still alive, The Beatles were able to release a new single featuring work from all members of the group. They used AI to separate John Lennon's voice from a demo track he created when still alive. The song also featured input from the other members, including the deceased George Harrison and samples from their previous work. Watch the music video here and a short 10 minute documentary explaining how it was put together.
Questions to Consider:
- How did the technology that Peter Jackson developed help to make this a possibility?
- How did the technology that Peter Jackson developed help to make this a possibility?
- Is it ethical to manipulate and release the music of a dead person without their permission?
- What does this mean for the future of media? Will artists ever die?
- How are deepfakes and AI ustilised in the music video?
(Could also be applied to Postmodernism; copy of a copy, audiences not knowing reality)
SAG-AFTRA Writers Strike (2023)
A labour strike including actors and writers brought Hollywood to a standstill for five months. Some of the main issues were the shift to new media platforms like streaming sites and the potential inclusion of AI in production. Members stuck together and eventually reached a deal that benefited the low earners in the film and TV industry. Read this article to find out more about the deal that was struck.
Questions to Consider:
- How should profits be shared between the production company and the workers? - What other emerging technologies could disrupt the media landscape?
- What effect could this five month break have on the film industry?
K Pop group Eternity
The K Pop group called eternity are completely AI generated, including their voices, image, and dance moves. This trend is becoming quite popular in Korea, with more and more bands gaining the spotlight. Read this article for more detail.
Questions to Consider:
- What technologies have created this movement? - Is there a risk of real artists and bands being replaced?
- Why would the media company who created the band choose this instead of a real band?
- How could this shape society and its relationship with the media
(Could also be applied to Postmodernism)
Questions to Consider (postmodernism):
- How much of this band is real and how much is artificial? - Are fans at risk of becoming too consumed with simulacra like this?
- How media literate do audiences need to be to understand the impact of this technology?
- Who controls this representation and what effect might it have on a young audience?
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