Abstract: A computer-based method and system for classifying and locating media content is provided. In preferred embodiments, a dynamically modifiable, structured vocabulary system is used to drive a media classification and search system. An exemplary embodiment of the media classification and search system includes media content unit classification services, a media content unit search engine, and one or more data repositories, including typically a media content unit collection, metadata, the vocabulary, and a term-to-media content reverse index. The structured vocabulary provides a classification system, whose structure and relationships can be altered independently of the media content being classified, thus enabling tuning of the system without needing to reclassify data. The use of the structured vocabulary also increases the rate of success and efficiency in matching search requests to locate media content.